Road game

Crowd again roots for U.S. opponent

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JEONJU, South Korea (AP) -- The Mexicans came in singing. The Americans went out laughing.

For the first time, the United States won a knockout game in the World Cup. It was naturally all the sweeter coming against its southern neighbor and traditional soccer rival, Mexico.

"We certainly earned bragging points for a few years to come," said Kaela Porter, a 34-year-old biotech scientist from Boston as she watched her friends dance in glee in the esplanade outside Jeonju Stadium after 2-0 win. "I really didn't think we could do this. And obviously it's a bit special being against Mexico."

Porter was one of an estimated 3,000 U.S. soccer supporters outshouted and outsung by some 10,000 green-clad Mexicans for most of the match. The near 35,000 spectators, mostly Koreans, cheered wildly with every move the Mexican side made and booed as hard as they could whenever the United States got near goal.

"That's been the way since the start of the tournament. We're always the underdog," said Shannon Foster, 31, from Los Angeles, girlfriend of U.S. player Cobi Jones.

But the crowd pressure didn't bother the U.S. team. By the 8th minute it was up 1-0 on a goal by Brian McBride, and in the 65th minute Landon Donavan headed in a second on a gorgeous cross from Eddie Lewis.

The first goal stunned the Mexican fans, but the second zapped them into silence. Gone was the merriment and on came the dejection.

As they went mum, the little pocket of some 1,000 U.S. fans to the right of one of the goals became all the more raucous.

"USA Quarterfinals," they roared as the Mexicans sat glumly.

"I feel so sad," said Francisco Cardenas, 50, from Guadalajara, Mexico. "There was too much pressure in this game. Mexico dominated, but it couldn't concentrate enough to get a goal. I would have preferred to lose to any other team."

Few things could have been worse for the Mexicans.

"Only not qualifying for the World Cup would have been harder to take than this," said Gregorio Hidalgo, a 28-year-old sales manager from Mexico City. "Every time we play the United States it's like this. We have let them play us too often in friendlies, and now they know how to handle us."

By the closing minutes of the game, the stadium was half-empty as droves of Mexican fans drifted out early. The U.S. fans stayed on, cheering their soccer heroes far beyond the final whistle.

Outside, the Mexicans trudged away as if in mourning, with none of the customary horn-blowing or drum-pounding.

"Sad, sad, sad," said Antonio Abraham, 42, from Merida. Either tears or the perspiration had made the Mexican flag painted on his cheeks run, giving him a look of utter despair.

"I don't care who beat us, it will take time to get over this. I want to go home now and forget about it," he said.

Close by, U.S. fans relished the victory quietly, obviously not wishing to openly rub it in.

"I predicted the game to be 2-1, but I never dreamed of 2-0," said Sgt. 1st Class Rich Smith of Colorado, who is based at Yongin, some three hours drive south of Jeonju.

"I hate to see the Mexicans leave, they are our bosom buddies here," Smith said. "But this is round of 16 and someone has got to go home. Even though they are our neighbors, better them than us."

Smith was one of eight members from the small U.S. base at Yongin to attend the match.

"The game was fantastic, marvelous to see," said Major Todd Curry, intelligence chief at Yongin. "It was beautiful to see the United States team come back and start playing well again after Poland [a 3-1 loss].

"The first game they came out and amazed everybody, they amazed the world," added Curry as he sipped on a Budweiser. "They played Korea in a very tough game and played them to a 1-1 tie. Against Poland they seemed to fall even further. Today they came back and displayed their potential."

Added Curry: "It's nothing special beating Mexico, it's special winning the game and moving to the next level. Mexico is a very good team. No grudges."

But his colleague begged to differ a little.

"It feels great, truly awesome," said Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Todd, also stationed at Yongin. "I'm from San Diego; you know we're right on the border with Mexico."

George Hejduk, father of U.S. defender Frankie Hejduk, who missed the game with a suspension, saw the win as a statement.

"The United States has finally got above Mexico as far as soccer. We have surpassed them now," Hejduk said.

But it was friendship which ruled the day, especially outside the stadium. A group of U.S. supporters had their photographs taken with Korean riot police, then were joined spontaneously by a group of some 20 Mexican children. Together they chanted "USA, Mexico Ole, Ole Ole."

 

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