Soccer

After 75 Years And 25 Attempts, US Men’s Soccer Finally Defeats Mexico In Mexico

Mexico’s national men’s soccer team has owned an otherworldly home-field advantage over the United States. In an all-time series that’s spanned three-quarters of a century and 24 matches in Mexico, El Tri boasted a 23-0-1 record over the Americans. With the Americans undermanned and helpless, hopeless and historically hapless at Estadio Azteca (0-19-1 at the stadium), it should have been 24-0-1 for El Tri, but on Wednesday night it was not to be. USMNT took the match, 1-0.

It’s not exactly 1980 Winter Olympic hockey, but the numbers don’t lie: In 75 years, Team USA had never won on Mexican soil. Outscored all-time 81-14 in Mexico City. Virtually their entire back line was scratched. Mexico’s program is making a meteoric rise, on the heels of a gold medal performance at the London Olympics. How lopsided was this supposed to be in favor of El Tri? Well, this excerpt from ESPN’s game preview sheds a light:

Expectations have rarely been lower for the U.S. men’s national team as it prepares for Wednesday’s encounter with Mexico at the famed Estadio Azteca. That’s saying something, considering the team’s all-time record when playing Mexico away is 0-23-1. The U.S. is bringing a decidedly understrength side to the match, while El Tri will have most of its first-choice lineup available. Yet as unlikely as it is that the U.S. will get a result, the match does present a considerable opportunity for some of the team’s more youthful elements.

The heroes of the match for the U.S. were Michael Orozco Fiscal, who notched the game’s lone goal in the 80th minute, and Tim Howard, who always seems to make the big save when it counts. On this night, he made two of them in the last 10 minutes, preserving the 1-0 score.

In the grand scheme of things, this was just a friendly match. It doesn’t technically mean much, but after 75 years of victory virginity on Mexican soil, it is nice to put that first notch in your bedpost.

[photo via Getty]