5) 1995 CONMEBOL Copa America Quarterfinal – 7/17/1995 – USMNT (4) 0-0 (1) Mexico (PK)
So it was around this time that the USMNT was still trying to gain momentum as a team. They had hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1994 but largely struggled. This gained a little bit of respectability for the United States on the international stage.
In the Group Stage of the Copa America, the USMNT won the group against Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. As a reward, they got Mexico in the Quarterfinal. The United States did all they could to survive and survive they did through all 120 minutes scoreless and to penalty kicks. After winning 4-1 in penalties, the USMNT moved on where they inevitably lost to Brazil in the Semifinal. But alas, the damage was done and the United States got some notice by some of the top teams in the world at that time, right in their own backyard.
4) First WCQ in Columbus: Origin of “dos a cero” – 2/28/2001 – USMNT 2-0 Mexico
The USMNT has had a history of defeating Mexico by a score of 2-0 in a World Cup Qualifier in Columbus, Ohio. This was the first of those games.
In what began on a cold night in Columbus that seemed to resemble a bar fight, the USMNT began their Columbus tradition against Mexico with the kind of home field advantage they had hardly seen before this. After having to make two substitutions before halftime, the United States was in dire need of a goal. Right after they got back from the halftime break, Josh Wolff got behind the Mexican defenders, went one-on-one with goalkeeper Jorge Campos and won out by calmly placing his shot in the middle of the goal. This was the first “dos a cero” win against Mexico in Columbus. Since then, the USMNT has played their World Cup Qualifier against Mexico in Columbus. In all four World Cup Qualifiers against Mexico in Columbus, the USMNT won by the same “dos a cero” margin.
3) First USMNT win at the Azteca – 8/15/2012 – Mexico 0-1 USMNT
Jurgen Klinsmann gets criticized at times for going experimental in his tactics. Some of those times, like recently, that criticism is rather warranted. This was one of those times where it worked and Klinsmann deserved praise.
One thing Jurgen Klinsmann did to give the USMNT an advantage at the Azteca that it never had before was to travel to Mexico City a week before the game to train and adjust to the altitude. At over 7,000 feet, not only does the crowd make it tough for visiting teams to win at the Azteca, the altitude can physically and mentally wipe you out as well. That’s what makes it so tough to play there. Now Klinsmann obviously couldn’t replicate the hostile crowd but he could get the team acclimatized to the altitude and that seemed to work. The USMNT won 1-0 and earned their first win at the Azteca. While it was just a friendly, that was a huge feat for the USMNT.
2) 2011 CONCACAF Cold Cup Final – 6/25/2011 – USMNT 2-4 Mexico
Just like what will happen on Saturday, the USMNT and Mexico met at the Rose Bowl in the Gold Cup Final. For the United States’ sake, they hope they don’t see the same result.
The USMNT had the game somewhat under control. After early goals by Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan, the United States had a 2-0 lead and the inside track at going to the 2013 Confederations Cup. Then Mexico scored their first goal, then their second, then their third and then their fourth. After blowing a 2-0 lead, the USMNT lost 4-2 to their rival and resulted in the end of the Bob Bradley era for the United States and the beginning of the Jurgen Klinsmann era. Now, four years later, in the same location with similar circumstances and similar stakes may cause people to call for Klinsmann’s head if the USMNT loses in similar fashion.
1) 2002 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 – 6/17/2002 – USMNT 2 – 0 Mexico
The ultimate USMNT/Mexico game. This is the only game in the rivalry to ever take place during the ultimate tournament, the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Compared to this game, friendlies didn’t matter, World Cup Qualifiers didn’t matter and continental games didn’t matter. This was and is it.
After an early goal by Brian McBride, the USMNT got out in front for the first and as of 2015, only time in a World Cup knockout game in the modern USMNT era (post 1990). Then in the 65th minute, Landon Donovan made it the ultimate “dos a cero” result and they held on to win and advance to the World Cup Quarterfinals for the first time ever in the modern era. It was the USMNT’s finest day since beating England in the 1950 World Cup and they did it against their rival. Unless they meet again in the World Cup, no other game can top this, regardless of what happens Saturday night.
