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U.S. shocks Mexico 2-0 (World Cup)
MSNBC ^ | 6/17/02 | ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posted on 06/17/2002 1:30:16 AM PDT by danielobvt

JEONJU, South Korea, June 17 — Landon Donovan and Brian McBride both scored their second goals of the World Cup as the United States stunned Mexico 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time.
BRIAN MCBRIDE SCORED his second goal of the tournament in the 8th minute to give the U.S. an early lead.
MCBRIDE THUMPED THE ball home from 13 meters out in the eighth minute after Claudio Reyna and surprise starter Josh Wolff had combined well down the right in the Americans’ only meaningful attack of the half.
The U.S. got a huge break early in the second half when a hand-ball by John O’Brien in the U.S. penalty box went undetected by the referees.
After failing to make any headway despite having most of the possession, Mexico coach Javier Aguirre introduced veteran forward Luis Hernandez in the 28th minute in place of midfielder Ramon Morales.
The change lifted the Mexicans, with striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco forcing a great save from Brad Friedel, though Mexico keeper Oscar Perez also did well to block a low Wolff shot just before the interval.
The United States shook up its lineup for the game, inserting four new starters and switching to a three-man defensive line.
Gregg Berhalter, Pablo Mastroeni, Eddie Lewis and Josh Wolff joined the starting lineup, with Berhalter making his World Cup debut. Wolff, who scored against Mexico in the opener of last year’s final round of qualifying, had played just nine minutes in the previous three games and Lewis had played 16.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena was forced to make some of the changes. Outside back Frankie Hejduk was suspended for getting two yellow cards and central defender Jeff Agoos was hurt in Friday’s 3-1 loss to Poland. Arena also benched Clint Mathis and Earnie Stewart.
Stewart was injured in the opening 3-2 win over Portugal, missed the 1-1 tie against South Korea, and looked sluggish in the Poland game. Mathis, whose fitness over 90 minutes has been questioned by Arena, also sat against Portugal, which like the Mexico game started at 3:30 p.m. (2:30 a.m. EDT).
While Arena had gone with a 4-4-2, he switched to a 3-5-2 against the Mexicans.
Brad Friedel remained in goal, and the defense featured Berhalter at left back, Eddie Pope in the center and Tony Sanneh at right back.
The midfield had Claudio Reyna, John O’Brien and Mastroeni in the middle, with Lewis on the left side and Landon Donovan on the right.
Wolff and Brian McBride were the forwards.
Mexico’s lineup was unchanged from its final game of the first round, a 1-1 tie against Italy.
Oscar Perez was in goal; Salvador Carmona, Rafael Marquez and Manuel Vidrio were defenders; Ramon Morales, Braulio Luna, Gerardo Torrado, Joahan Rodriguez and Jesus Arellano were in midfield; and Jared Borgetti and Cuauhtemoc Blanco were forwards.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: worldcupsoccer
USA! USA! Definately worth not sleeping.
1 posted on 06/17/2002 1:30:16 AM PDT by danielobvt
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To: danielobvt
The fire departments in Southern Kalifornia are going to be reeeeeaallly busy today.
2 posted on 06/17/2002 1:33:16 AM PDT by SandfleaCSC
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3 posted on 06/17/2002 1:36:25 AM PDT by Mo1
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To: SandfleaCSC
Next it will be the U.S vs. Germany, one of the sentimental World Cup favorites and the host country of the 2006 World Cup Games. Will the U.S make it to the final? I don't think any one thinks the odds are good but then again no one held any hope we'd make it it to the quarterfinals. We shall see; this World Cup could turn out to have unexpected surprises in store.
4 posted on 06/17/2002 1:37:48 AM PDT by goldstategop
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To: danielobvt
Missing from this shallow article is the fact that Mexico displayed the epitome of poor sportsmanship by walking off the field without congratulating the winners.
5 posted on 06/17/2002 1:45:09 AM PDT by kitchen
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To: kitchen
I agree. No loss to our team, though. They knew exactly what to expect from a sleazy, classless, unsportsmanlike team.
6 posted on 06/17/2002 1:54:19 AM PDT by keri
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To: keri
The Mexicans thought they were playing against Americans who didn't have world class football players. They were arrogant and overconfident to the point of hubris. But to be shut by the Yanquis? They must be pinching themselves; either they're living in the wrong timeline or on the wrong planet. In any case, there's nowhere for the U.S to go in this sport but UP!!! GO USA!!!
7 posted on 06/17/2002 2:00:30 AM PDT by goldstategop
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To: goldstategop
Yep. I'm just angry at what happened to Cobi Jones and Pablo Mastroeni. Blanco should've been sent off, and I wanted to punch Vidrio out through my TV screen. This game got really nasty, especially toward the end. OTOH, it was nice to see Friedel throw a punch:-) The guy is 6'5" and 230, I think. I'm surprised the Mexican player didn't pass out:-) LOL.
8 posted on 06/17/2002 2:13:35 AM PDT by keri
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To: keri, goldstategop
The game got very ugly in the end. I was shocked to see that they left without congratulating the winning team.
9 posted on 06/17/2002 3:58:19 AM PDT by Cool Guy
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To: Cool Guy
Not really. It just wasn't Speedy Gonzales field day. LOL
10 posted on 06/17/2002 3:59:58 AM PDT by goldstategop
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To: danielobvt
WOOEEEE!!! Great win. The U.S. is for real.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

On the other hand, is anyone else sick of all this across-the-board sleazy play? The dives? The chicken s-it attempts to injure? Someone else suggested adding another ref to watch the off-the-ball action which I think is a great idea. After all, how many officials are there in a football game?

11 posted on 06/17/2002 4:50:02 AM PDT by Aquinasfan
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To: danielobvt
USA- Germany I won't know who to root for. I've been a fan of German soccer since I was 7, because the US always sucked. Who do I root for now
12 posted on 06/17/2002 4:52:58 AM PDT by Michael2001
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To: Michael2001
Its gonna be a Junifest. Depends on who is hoisting the beer mugs and gets to wear the lederhosen at the end of Friday's game. :)
13 posted on 06/17/2002 4:54:31 AM PDT by goldstategop
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To: kitchen
I was wondering about the lack of handshakes, etc. after the end of the game. Not being a soccer afficionado, I didn't know whehter that was normal (perhaps for crowd control or whatever). Now that I know that this is not the case, I'm only a bit surprised at this really poor sportsmanship, given the number of clearly deliberate and injury-attempting hits the Mexicans delivered during the game. The worst was that headbutt at about the 86th minute on our guy with the dredlocks (at least that Mexican player got red-flagged).

If I had been impartial, which I wasn't, I would have rooted for the US, because the Mexicans were clearly quintessential, arrogant jerks. Now they are also losers.

14 posted on 06/17/2002 10:52:05 AM PDT by litany_of_lies
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To: Aquinasfan
"On the other hand, is anyone else sick of all this across-the-board sleazy play? The dives? The chicken s-it attempts to injure?"

YES, I was appalled by some of the deliberate contact I saw. I don't know much about soccer, but if they typically let players get away with that kind of crap, that is one dangerous sport. I am doubly glad our guys won.

15 posted on 06/17/2002 10:56:04 AM PDT by litany_of_lies
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To: kitchen
The Mexican players apparently adhere to the same principles of bad losership as their fans.In fairness, it's reported that a few of the Mexicans did shake hands.
16 posted on 06/17/2002 2:20:32 PM PDT by luvbach1
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To: keri
The flying head spear to Cobi's temple was unbelievably vicious.It was when the game was lost that the Mexicans really showed their character. Be proud, Mexicans.
17 posted on 06/17/2002 2:23:39 PM PDT by luvbach1
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To: SandfleaCSC
The fire departments in Southern Kalifornia are going to be reeeeeaallly busy today.

Santa Ana soccer fans get violent with police

18 posted on 06/17/2002 2:36:25 PM PDT by Captain Lincoln F. Stern
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To: luvbach1
Yes. Marquez left the field laughing after the ref showed him the red. Obviously, intentionally a very vicous and dangerous head butt, and could've really done Cobi in. But, Jones shakes it off and comes back only to get pummeled in the corner.

Too much for me...at that point the game was over, and instead of Mexico playing the game and losing with grace and class, they showed exactly the sort of stuff their team is made of.

Blanco baited Mastroeni the whole game, at one point curling his fist in Mastroeni's face as if to punch him. Well, they knew they were on their way home, why not try to injure a few US players on their way out? What's a red at that point? This is, of course, totally contrary to the spirit of the game. I wish FIFA would come up with monetary fines for players who engage in this sort of behavior, or suspension. Something...

It is good, at least, to see that FIFA has allowed the refs to start penalizing for faked injuries and fouls.

Kudos to the US. I thought they showed a lot of grace under incredible provocation.

19 posted on 06/17/2002 3:04:00 PM PDT by keri
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To: Captain Lincoln F. Stern
Guess it didn't take Nostradamus like skills to see that coming.
20 posted on 06/18/2002 7:26:51 AM PDT by SandfleaCSC
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