U.S. Gets ‘Golden Point’ in 0-0 Tie
In what amounted to a remarkable upset, the U.S. national soccer team held Mexico to a 0-0 tie Sunday, playing so well that tens of thousands of Mexican fans defected and started cheering for their fiercest rival.
“Ole! Ole! Ole!” shouted the fans--many with red, white and green Mexican flags painted on their faces--as the Americans repeatedly swiped the ball from their opponents and blocked their shots.
The tie gave the Americans a crucial point toward qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France and clinched a berth in the 32-nation event for Mexico.
And it was an immense morale booster as the U.S. team heads into its final two games of the qualifying phase, starting with Canada on Sunday.
Sunday’s game at giant Guillermo Canedo Stadium broke a 60-year losing streak for the U.S. national team in Mexico City. Mexico has never lost a World Cup qualifying match at home.
And the Americans did it a man down. Referee Javier Alberto Castrilli--so strict he is known as “The Sheriff”--ejected defender Jeff Agoos with 58 minutes left. The referee said Agoos had elbowed Pavel Pardo after the Mexican had stomped on his foot.
In addition, four of the usual U.S. starters were missing. Midfielder Tab Ramos (knee), forward Ernie Stewart (calf) and goalkeeper Kasey Keller (hand) were sidelined by injuries, and midfielder Claudio Reyna was suspended.
The red card “forced us to play a purely defensive tactic,” U.S. Coach Steve Sampson said. “If we had stayed with 11 players, we would have seen a more offensive team.”
Still, Sampson was beaming at the result. The team, he said, had gained a “golden point.”
The United States might even have won the match had defender Thomas Dooley’s shot on the turn not bounced safely away off the foot of the right post with goalkeeper Jorge Campos beaten.
The only downside for the U.S. was Agoos’ red card and the yellow received by team captain John Harkes for a late tackle. Both will miss the Canada match.
The United States had won three of its last seven games against Mexico and tied in its previous encounter last April in Foxboro Stadium near Boston. But conditions in the Mexican capital are punishing enough to intimidate even the toughest opponent.
To prepare for the city’s altitude--7,350 feet above sea level--the U.S. team trained for two weeks at Big Bear Lake, which is nearly as high. Then, the players planned to subject their lungs to some Mexico City-quality smog by practicing in San Bernardino, but strong winds suddenly swept that city clean.
Cobi Jones, a midfielder who plays for the Galaxy, said the training enabled the U.S. team to shrug off the altitude.
“A lot of press and fans thought it would be a major concern for us, but it really didn’t affect our game,” he said.
There was, however, another concern: the Mexican fans. When Sunday’s game started, the U.S. team was met with boos from 114,600 flag-waving, horn-tooting Mexicans.
But, disgusted by their team’s performance, the Mexicans gradually began to boo their own players and chant “Get Out, Bora!”--a reference to Mexico’s coach, Bora Milutinovic, who used to coach the U.S. team.
The fans saved their cheers for the Americans.
“It was a great feeling,” said U.S. forward Joe-Max Moore. “When 120,000 fans switch and start cheering you on, well, that doesn’t happen very often in your career.”
With the tie, Mexico did qualify for the World Cup. But fans were dejected, their gloom contrasting with the lively mariachi music filling the stadium.
“This is an offense to the nation,” grumbled Francisco Rojas, a spectator, as he left the stadium after the game.
“The Mexican players must have received money,” declared his friend, Martin Ortiz, suggesting that a local tradition as old as soccer--corruption--must have been involved.
Mexico forwards Luis Garcia and Luis Hernandez had several scoring opportunities, but their shots generally went wide of the net. With the U.S. players concentrating on defense in the second half, the Mexicans were constantly frustrated.
For the U.S. team, the tie was a vindication after a disappointing 1-1 tie in their last qualifier, against Jamaica.
“We learned our lesson against Jamaica. We let our guard down” against that team, said Sampson.
The U.S. coach had complained that his players were acting too much as individuals in the Jamaica game. But on Sunday, a sense of teamwork was evident, with strong defensive play by Dooley, Marcelo Balboa, Alexi Lalas and Eddie Pope.
“We all believed in ourselves. We knew we could come down here and play well,” said midfielder Chris Henderson.
Mexico (4-0-4) became the 22nd country to qualify for the 32-nation World Cup. It leads the six-nation CONCACAF qualifying group with 16 points.
Jamaica (3-2-3) is second, with 12 points and can qualify for France with a victory over El Salvador on Sunday. The United States (2-1-5) is in third place with 11. It must win either against Canada on Sunday or against El Salvador on Nov. 16--or tie both of them--to clinch a spot in the World Cup.
Notes
In Sunday’s only other qualifier, the United Arab Emirates might have cost itself a spot in the World Cup with a scoreless tie against visiting Uzbekistan. The tie moved Japan (2-1-4), which beat South Korea, 2-0, Saturday, into second place in Asia Group B ahead of the UAE (2-2-2). South Korea (5-1-1) has clinched first and a place in France. The second-place team plays the Group A runner-up for a spot in the World Cup. Japan would clinch a playoff spot if the UAE fails to beat South Korea on Friday. If the UAE wins that one, Japan needs a victory against Kazakstan on Saturday.
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CONCACAF World Cup ’98 Qualifying Standings
The top three finishers from the final qualifying group of six will qualify for France ’98. Qualifying ends Nov. 16.
*--*
Team Played W L T GF GA Pts *Mexico 8 4 0 4 20 4 16 Jamaica 8 3 2 3 5 10 11 USA 8 2 1 5 10 7 10 El Salvador 8 2 3 3 7 10 9 Costa Rica 8 2 4 2 7 8 8 Canada 8 1 4 3 4 14 6
*--*
Remaining games, with home team listed first: Sunday--Canada-USA, El Salvador-Jamaica; Nov. 16--Jamaica-Mexico, Costa Rica-Canada, USA-El Salvador.
* Clinched World Cup ’98 berth.
