Mexico Has Crowd Edge in San Diego

On the road at home.

Strange as it sounds, that is precisely the assignment facing the U.S. men’s national soccer team today as it attempts to win U.S. Cup ’99 by hosting rival Mexico in a match held mere miles above the border, in San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.

Hosting? Who said anything about hosting?

“This game is really a neutral-site game,” U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis said of today’s 12:30 p.m. match. “We’re playing it in our country, but in front of their fans.”

A crowd of more than 50,000 is expected for the U.S. Cup decider, with about 80% of that crowd passionately devoted to the green, red and white of the Mexican national team.

“Even though it’s in San Diego,” U.S. midfielder Frankie Hejduk said, “we’re going to be on the road. It’s going to be a pro-Mexico crowd. What we have to do is show them, ‘This is our barrio,’ as they would put it.”

That won’t be easy. As Hejduk acknowledges, “Mexico has pretty much had our number”--that number being 25-5-9 in 39 matches against the U.S. dating to 1934.

The United States has not defeated Mexico since June 18, 1995, a stunning 4-0 triumph in Washington that enabled the Americans to win that year’s U.S. Cup.

In the last six meetings, the United States is 0-2-4 against Mexico--although another tie today would return the cup to the Americans.

That is because the United States emerged from Thursday’s openers with a one-goal lead in goal differential. The United States defeated Guatemala, 3-1, at the Coliseum before Mexico rallied to beat Bolivia, 2-1.

Because of that goal advantage, the United States can clinch the cup with either a victory or a draw. After the U.S.-Mexico match, Guatemala and Bolivia will play at 3 p.m.

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U.S. vs. Mexico, 12:30 p.m., Ch. 7