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Viva Mexico U.S. slumps to World Cup loss at hostile Azteca
Updated: Monday July 02, 2001 10:48 AM
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico needed a win more than the United States on Sunday and it showed. Safely among the leaders in World Cup qualifying, the Americans played their worst game of the year and dropped out of first place with their first defeat in the regional finals. "We were the most dangerous Mexican player today," defender Jeff Agoos said after the Americans lost 1-0. "We were our own worst enemy. ... We beat ourselves." At 7,350 feet in Azteca Stadium, the Americans hit a lowpoint, getting outshot 14-4 and committing needless fouls, including one by Joe-Max Moore that led to Jared Borgetti's goal in the 15th minute. "It was just a lack of confidence on the ball," Moore said. "We just seemed to be giving it up every second or third pass." Mexico, with a new coach and a new lineup, needed a win to get back into contention for one of the three berths in the North and Central American and Caribbean region. Only a stellar performance by U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who made three great saves, prevented a rout. The United States, 0-21-1 at Mexico, didn't take a serious shot in the first half. Moore, replacing suspended Claudio Reyna as the playmaking midfielder, had an awful game and was replaced at the start of the second half by Cobi Jones, who made a U.S. record 140th international appearance. While the Americans had a few breakaways late, none led to serious threats. "If you can't have the ball, you are forced to play defense," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said.
Mexico goalkeeper Oscar Perez needed to make only one save. "We had trouble communicating," Jones said. "Everyone was playing on different pages, and we weren't organized as players on the field." The United States (4-1-1), seeking its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, dropped into second place behind Costa Rica (4-1-1), which has the same goal difference but more total goals following a 3-2 victory Sunday at Honduras. Honduras add Jamaica (both 2-2-2) are five points back Mexico (2-3-1) is six behind. Only the top three qualify. With a victory against Honduras in their next game at Washington's RFK Stadium on Sept. 1, the Americans would pretty much ensure themselves a berth in next year's 32-nation field in Japan and South Korea. But the earliest the United States probably can clinch is Sept. 5 at Costa Rica. Mexico came out aggressively, dominating from the outset. The Americans played back, waiting for Mexico to tire itself out. After Moore made a needless foul on Alberto Garcia Aspe in the 15th minute, Aspe sent a free kick over the middle. Borgetti, beating what looked to be an offsides trap, was unmarked, with no defenders near, and headed the ball past Keller, ending the U.S. goalkeeper's streak of five consecutive shutouts in qualifying. That was enough for Mexico. "It was just a hostile environment," U.S. forward Earnie Stewart said. "On the other hand, you have to get through that way sooner, and not just 25 minutes before the end when we started to find each other. That's too late." In the stands, the rivalry between the neighboring countries was intense. About 110,000 fans, many with their faces painted red, white and green, hooted and called out profane chants and slurs at a small group that had the audacity to unveil a giant American flag. A deafening whistle filled the stadium whenever an announcement came over the public address system in English, and it was all but impossible to hear "The Star-Spangled Banner" over the hoots. Mexico, traditionally a regional soccer powerhouse, has struggled this year and a loss Sunday probably would have forced Mexico into needing wins in its final four games. After its previous game, a 3-1 loss to Honduras, the team replaced coach Enrique Meza with Javier Aguirre, who overhauled his roster. Aguirre dropped many of the national team mainstays and brought back Garcia Aspe, a midfielder who has 21 goals in 87 appearances with the national team, as well as a slew of players from the Cruz Azul club, which lost on penalty kicks in the final of the Libertators Cup to Boca Juniors of Argentina on Thursday. Six Cruz Azul players were in the game for Mexico. Missing from Mexico's roster were recent starters such as Jorge Campos, Luis Hernandez, Pavel Pardo, Victor Ruiz and Manuel Abundis. Aguirre said he knew Arena would study tapes from his coaching at the Pachuca club, so he changed his tactics -- or rather eliminated them. "Since we didn't have much time to practice together, I just told everyone to do what they could," he said. Lineups: USA - 1-Kasey Keller; 6-David Regis, 12-Jeff Agoos, 16-Carlos Llamosa, 2-Steve Cherundolo; 14- Chris Armas, 9-Joe-Max Moore (14-Cobi Jones, 46), 8-Earnie Stewart, 22-Tony Sanneh; 11-Ante Razov (15-Chris Klein, 82), 19-Jovan Kirovski (20-Brian McBride, 61). Subs not used: 3-Gregg Berhalter, 24-Nick Rimando, 4-Greg Vanney, 21-Richie Williams. MEX - 12-Oscar Perez; 21-Jesus Arellano (20-Jose Hernandez, 87), 2-Claudio Suarez, 5-Manuel Vidrio, 4-Melvin Brown; 18-Johan Rodriguez (13-Victor Gutierrez, 66), 6-Gerardo Torrado, 8-Alberto Garcia Aspe (7-Octavio Valdez, 74), 14-Tomas Campos; 17-Francisco Palencia, 9-Jared Borgetti. Subs not used: 1-Oswaldo Sanchez, 3-Sergio Almaguer, 19-Miguel Zepeda, 11-Daniel Osorno. Costa Rica moves into first in North and Central AmericaTEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) -- Mauricio Solis scored the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute, and Costa Rica beat Honduras 3-2 on Sunday to take over first place in the regional finals of World Cup qualifying. Amado Guevara converted a penalty kick in the 25th minute and tied the score in the 38th. Honduras was missing Carlos Pavon, who scored three goals in a 3-1 victory against Mexico on June 20, and goalkeeper Noel Valladares. Both were suspended after getting their second yellow cards against the Mexicans. Costa Rica and the United States both are 4-1-1 in the finals of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean and both have a plus-five goal difference, but Costa Rica moved into first with more total goals. Honduras and Jamaica (both 2-2-2) are five points back, with Honduras ahead on goal difference. Mexico (2-3-1), which beat the United States 1-0 Sunday, is six points behind. The top three nations qualify for next year's tournament in Japan and South Korea. Honduras' next game is against the United States in Washington on Sept. 1. Costa Rica is at last-place Trinidad and Tobago (1-5-1) on Sept. 1, then plays host to the United States on Sept. 5.
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