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Firing blanks Mathis helps U.S. shutout Mexico 1-0Posted: Thursday April 04, 2002 12:49 AMUpdated: Thursday April 04, 2002 1:44 PM
DENVER (AP) -- All alone with the United States' best chance of the night, Clint Mathis didn't know what to do. Lucky for him and the Americans, he got a good bounce. Mathis scored in the 66th minute on a shot that barely crossed the goal line, and the United States overcame a slow start to beat Mexico 1-0 on Wednesday night in a tuneup game for the World Cup. Mathis had an open net after Mexican goalie Oscar Perez and defender Manuel Vidrio collided, but got an awkward bounce. His shot bounced almost straight down after hitting the inside of the crossbar. "I didn't think we would get anything out of it, but I went for it anyway," Mathis said. "Luckily, the guys collided and the ball came to me. I made it a bit dramatic by hitting the post, but a goal's a goal. We'll take it how they come." The United States is 8-2 this year and has seven straight shutouts at home. The Americans have won four of their last five games against Mexico. Mexico outshot the United States 9-6, but had just three shots in the second half. Mathis scored after Carlos Llamosa sent a long ball down the right side. Vidrio went up to head the ball away, but ran into the charging Perez and both fell to the ground. Mathis avoided the collision and waited for the ball to bounce before knocking it out of the air. "All the thoughts are going through my head: What am I going to do with it?" Mathis said. "So I let it bounce and the ball never came down. I kept waiting and waiting. I saw someone coming, so I had to hit it as low as possible." Small pockets of American fans, overwhelmed by the large contingent of Mexican supporters most of the night, rose to their feet and waved U.S. flags after the goal. It was Mathis' eighth international goal and his seventh straight game with a point. He had both goals in the United States' last game, a 4-2 loss in Germany on March 27. "He's obviously a very good player, he scores goals," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. "He has a lot of confidence. He can hold the ball and bring his teammates into the game. He's the complete package, I think, in an attacking player. He brings a lot of confidence to our team." The game was physical -- 40 fouls and six misconducts -- and featured several heated exchanges. Mexico's Alberto Garcia Aspe and American Frankie Hejduk received red cards in the 90th minute after getting into a shoving match in the corner. Mexican midfielder Braulio Luna yelled and gestured at the Americans several times after tackles, and Perez charged out of the box after a tackle by Hejduk. Mexican coach Javier Aguirre had to be restrained after Melvin Brown knocked into American DeMarcus Beasley at the end of the first half. Aguirre had an animated discussion with the officials for several minutes on the field during halftime. The Americans managed just one shot in the first half against Mexico's swarming defense, but were much more organized in the second. Josh Wolff, who replaced Greg Vanney at halftime, sent a shot wide in the 46th minute after a cross bounced off Perez's hands, and later handcuffed Perez with a shot after slipping around Vidrio. The United States nearly scored in the 64th minute after Mathis slipped a pass around Mexico's wall on a free kick, but Cobi Jones' shot hit the crossbar. "The Mexican team did a great job pressuring us. We were fortunate to go into halftime even," Arena said. "We played extremely well in the second half and deserved to win the game. It's been a tough four months of preparation for the World Cup and in all honesty, some of our players were simply exhausted today." Mexico's Carlos Ochoa appeared to have a goal in the seventh minute after one-touching a cross to the right corner of the goal, but he was ruled offsides. Mexico played without captain Claudio Suarez, who broke his leg during practice Tuesday. Suarez is expected to be out 6-to-8 weeks and his availability for the World Cup is in question. Aguirre said his team struggled keeping its focus after losing Suarez and that the team wasn't mentally prepared to play. "It was an ugly game, but a good experience for the younger guys," Aguirre said. U.S. goalie Tony Meola, playing in his 98th international game, had two saves. A crowd of 48,476 attended the United States' first full international game in Denver since 1992, but many were there to support Mexico. Many fans wore the jerseys of their favorite Mexican League teams, some had on large sombreros and others painted their faces with the colors of the Mexican flag. The stadium shook as fans stomped and did the wave as the Colorado Rapids and D.C. United opened the doubleheader with an MLS game. Thousands of red, white and green flags waved throughout the stadium when Mexico took the field for warmups, and several chants of "Mexico! Mexico!" rang out during the game. A few fights broke out in the stands and fans threw food, plastic bottles and rolls of toilet paper on the field after Luna received a yellow card for a hard tackle on Hejduk. SummaryUnited States 1, Mexico 0 - result international friendly. Scoring: United States - Clint Mathis, 66 Halftime 0-0 Attendance: 48,476 Teams: United States - 1-Tony Meola, 3-Greg Vanney (2-Carlos Llamosa, 46), 25-Pablo Mastroeni, 23-Eddie Pope, 5-Frankie Hejduk, 7-DaMarcus Beasley, 8-Richard Mulrooney, 21-Landon Donovan (17-Brian West, 77), 13-Cobi Jones (10-Brian Maisonneuve, 70), 9-Ante Razov (15-Josh Wolff), 11-Clint Mathis. Mexico - 12-Oscar Perez, 22-Alberto Rodriguez (15-Javier Saavedra, 46), 5-Manuel Vidrio, 20-Melvin Brown, 3-Heriberto Morales, 14-German Villa (Sigifredo Mercado, 59), 19-Gabriel Caballero (18-Joahan Rodriguez, 59), 7-Braulio Luna, 9-Carlos Ochoa, 11-Daniel Osorno (8-Alberto Garcia Aspe, 68), 16-Jesus Mendoza (10-Adolfo Bautista, 46). Referee: Clive Wright (Jamaica)
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