Mexico Booed After Loss to U.S.

Landon Donovan accomplished something on Wednesday night that only six other players in the history of U.S. soccer have achieved.

He scored a game-winning goal against Mexico.

That’s right, against Mexico, a team that held an overwhelming 27-6-8 advantage against the Americans before Wednesday in a rivalry that dates 66 years.

The U.S. scored a 2-0 victory that was as deserved as it was surprising. By the final whistle, what was left of the Coliseum crowd of 61,072 was booing the Mexican team, a rare occurrence.

Donovan’s historic moment came in his debut for the U.S. national team.

“He’s going to look good in a Galaxy uniform,” said Galaxy assistant coach Ralph Perez, only half-joking.

Donovan, 18, plays for Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, where he has four years left on his contract. But if he were to return to the U.S., the Galaxy believes it would have first rights to the Redlands native within Major League Soccer.

The youngster not only scored the first U.S. goal, rounding Mexican goalkeeper Adrian Martinez in the 50th minute and steering the ball into the empty net after receiving a well-timed through pass from Clint Mathis, he created the second.

It came with 11 minutes left and secured a victory that, while not momentous since it was essentially a “friendly” game, was certainly attention-grabbing.

With the U.S. in control of the match, Donovan and Josh Wolff exchanged give-and-go passes on the left flank, then repeated the feat as they closed in on the Mexican goal. Donovan’s final pass found Wolff free in front of the net and the Chicago Fire forward slammed the ball past Martinez.

Even U.S. Coach Bruce Arena was seen applauding the move from the bench. “We felt he would be a good guy to help us,” Arena said of Donovan. “He did a good job.” Donovan and Wolff were teammates on the U.S. Olympic team that finished fourth in Sydney. Wolff started Wednesday’s game, but Donovan’s chance came when starter Chris Henderson turned his right ankle in the 32nd minute and had to be substituted.

“I wasn’t really expecting to go into the game that early,” Donovan said. “It was an incredible experience, something I’ll never forget. I really enjoyed it.”

The overwhelmingly pro-Mexican crowd did not faze the teenager.

“It will help tremendously in the long run,” Donovan said. “It was the first taste of playing in front of a nasty crowd, so to speak. They weren’t bad though, really. they are just good passionate fans. I think it’s fun to play in front of them no matter if they’re for you or against you.”

The U.S. starting lineup included three players from the Olympic team: Wolff, and D.C. United players Jeff Agoos, who was excellent in the center of the defense, and forward Chris Albright.

It also included four players from MLS champion Kansas City: goalkeeper Tony Meola, defensive midfielder Kerry Zavagnin and wings Chris Klein and Henderson.

Also starting were defenders Carlos Llamosa (D.C. United) and Greg Vanney (Galaxy) and midfielders Richie Williams (D.C. United) and former Galaxy player Mathis (NY/NJ MetroStars).

The first 45 minutes were uneventful, with neither team able to take control. Shots were few and far between. In fact, by game’s end Meola, the MVP of MLS, had had to make only two saves, neither of them difficult.

Mexico, which also was fielding an experimental team devoid of “name” players, was disappointing. Coach Enrique Meza will have seen nothing to please him. Even much-heralded forward Jared Borgetti was held completely in check by the three-man U.S. back line of Llamosa, Agoos and Vanney.

Off the field, there were several subplots, not least of which was why it was being played at all.

To answer that question it is necessary to look back to June, when Mexico sent what was essentially a club team, Pumas, with an unqualified coach, Hugo Sanchez, to compete in the four-nation Nike U.S. Cup, a snub that was not forgotten by U.S. Soccer.

On one hand, it allowed the U.S. team to win its event, defeating “Mexico,” 3-0, in group play. But the absence of Mexico’s standout players hurt at the gate, and Wednesday night’s game was a way for the U.S. recoup its financial losses.

Given the size of the crowd, consider the account settled.