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Mexico's Guillermo Franco (10) celebrates as Clarence Goodson (3) of the US reacts after Franco's goal against the US during the finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer tournament July 26, 2009 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Mexico won the match 5-0. AFP PHOTO/DON EMMERT
t was an afternoon custom-designed to make Mexicans feel wonderful, at long last, about their treasured national soccer team – courtesy of a regional nemesis. At the same time, the debacle imposed a tough lesson on U.S. officials, who fielded a third-rate cast on an international stage and failed badly in the gamble.
The Americans were thumped, humiliated, 5-0, Sunday by Mexico in the Gold Cup final. It was the worst loss anywhere for the U.S. team since a 1985 defeat to England in Los Angeles by the same score.
This fiasco was a public relations blow more than a true comparative test of national teams. But an embarrassment is an embarrassment.
“The second half for us, that’s not what we’re all about,” coach Bob Bradley said. “It’s important we look hard at ourselves and use it the right way.”
For this exercise in foreign ego boosting, the Americans provided a sold-out Giants Stadium, filled to the brim with Mexico supporters among the crowd of 79,156. The U.S. then sent in a bunch of C-teamers, who had successfully sneaked past the CONCACAF minnows in this tournament despite severe experiential shortcomings.
Mexico, with its B-plus unit, took advantage of this setup to post its first victory since 1999 over the U.S. outside Mexico City. All five goals were scored during the final 34 minutes of the match, when the American back line utterly lost its shape and its way while chasing the match, following a penalty kick goal in the 56th minute by Gerardo Torrado.
Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela then baffled American defenders, while the U.S. managed only one shot all match at goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
This one-sided spectacle greatly appealed to the Mexican audience, which had endured a great number of soccer setbacks in recent months, plus key losses to the U.S. over the past decade.
A chance at sweet redemption looms, however. Next comes a pivotal World Cup qualifying match at Estadio Azteca on Aug. 12. If the U.S. can win that game before 105,000 fans in Mexico City, in high altitude, all will be forgotten, forgiven – and then some.
“People will read into (this loss) different ways,” Bradley said. “When we go to Azteca, we start over again. We have a chance to do something U.S. has never done before. When the game starts that day, we’ll be ready. Today was their day. Today is their day. They can celebrate.”
For that Aug. 12 match, the U.S. will have its entire A-team available, the same group featuring Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard that defeated Spain at the Confederations Cup in South Africa. Only Brian Ching from this team yesterday has much chance of seeing even a minute of action in that match.
“We know the Gold Cup ends today,” said Mexico coach Javier Aguirre. “We’re celebrating in the locker room. But it’s two different things. We feel good, but you can’t carry history with you.”
On the heels of that Confederations Cup success, Bradley had hoped to use the Gold Cup tournament to showcase a younger crop of players. He also wanted senior team stars to report for duty to professional teams. Players such as Charlie Davies and Jozy Altidore were placed on the Gold Cup roster, but weren’t called up for this match.
That philosophy made some sense, and Bradley nearly got away with the tactic. If the Americans had merely lost in a semifinal, or battled to a tight defeat against Mexico, nobody would have grumped. Then everything fell apart. The 5-0 scoreline went across the wires and oceans, potentially negating a good deal of respect earned by the U.S. in South Africa.
As always when these two rivals play, there were some bitter seeds planted in the sod. Before this match, Aguirre characterized the U.S. national soccer style as a few set-play tricks wrapped up in a defensive shell.
“They stack eight in the back and live off the other team’s mistakes,” Aguirre said. “If we do what they do, it’s going to be a zero-zero game and that’s not my goal.”
He wasn’t far off yesterday, when the U.S. side was practically devoid of technical or racial diversity.
The Americans appeared a throwback to the days when the national team was a bunch of slow, white, suburban kids.
The Mexicans? They were heroes again at home, until Aug. 12.
“Tonight I will sleep well,” Aguirre said. “Tomorrow, the pressure begins again.”
SOURCE: Filip Bondy – NYT