The U.S. national team's recent dominance over their Mexican counterparts continued Wednesday, as the Stars and Stripes claimed a 2-0 win in a friendly in Glendale, Ariz.
Jimmy Conrad scored eight minutes into the second half, coolly heading home a Landon Donovan corner, and Donovan completed the victory with his 27th international goal in second half stoppage time.
The win pushes the USA's home record against Mexico to 7-0-1 since 2000 and 8-2-1 overall during that same time span. During that stretch, the Red, White and Blue haven't allowed a goal to their archrivals on U.S. soil.
Against a strong Mexican side, the game was a good test for interim U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley - leading the team in just his second game - and his somewhat inexperienced lineup. Nine members of Mexican coach Hugo Sanchez's starting took part in the Tricolor's final World Cup match last June, while only five U.S. starters could say the same.
The first half was typical of what the United States-Mexico rivalry has become - a knockdown, drag-out affair featuring a lot of physical contact and few scoring chances.
Canadian referee Mauricio Navarro seemed intent on stemming the early tide of fouls, handing yellow cards to the USA's Jonathan Bornstein in the 10th minute and to Mexico's Carlos Salcido a minute later. U.S. midfielder Pablo Mastroeni continued his tough play regardless, delivering a crunching tackle to Rafael Marquez in the 34th minute.
The few productive attacks in the first half came mainly off the counter.
In the 18th minute, Alberto Medina weaved through the U.S. defense before feeding Cuauhtemoc Blanco at the left corner of the box. The mercurial striker crossed for Jared Borgetti, but the service sailed out for a goal kick.
The only shot of the half for the home side also came off a counterattack, as Donovan streaked up the left inside channel in the last minute of the half before firing a shot from 10 yards out. The ball appeared to be headed wide, by Mexican 'keeper Oswaldo Sanchez tapped it away for good measure.
Medina saw a lot of the ball for the Mexicans, perhaps in an attempt to expose U.S. left back Bornstein, who was making just his second international appearance.
The 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year stood up to the test for the most part, but Medina broke free on another counterattack in the 43rd minute, with Conrad force to pound his service out for a corner. From the corner, Ramon Morales sent a ball to the back post for Borgetti, who headed several yards wide.
Borgetti was neutralized by Conrad and Carlos Bocanegra for all but two plays in the first half - the aforementioned header and in the 40th minute when the Cruz Azul man had a chance to turn and shoot in the heart of the penalty area. Instead, he tapped the ball in Blanco's direction, and Chris Albright slid in to clear the danger for the USA.
The tempo picked up noticeably after the break, and eight minutes into the second stanza, the U.S. got on the board. Donovan served up an inch-perfect corner kick, and all Conrad had to do was lower his head to steer the ball into the goal from just outside the goal area.
The Mexican side had ample opportunity to equalize with an extended period of pressure shortly after the U.S. goal.
First came a ball served across the six in the 58th minute by second half substitute Andres Guardado that no one from either team touched. Another second half sub, Adolfo Bautista, sent in another tempting cross that nobody got a foot on seven minutes later.
In the 67th minute, Omar Bravo, who replaced Gerardo Torrado, had a golden chance as Borgetti centered the ball for him. But under pressure from U.S. 'keeper Tim Howard, Bravo missed the ball completely.
Bradley used the first of his substitutes in the 66th minute, bringing on Eddie Johnson for Chris Rolfe. Just five minutes after coming on, Johnson tested Sanchez with laser from long range. Sanchez had to be alert again three minutes later to punch away an effort from Bobby Convey after the Reading FC winger stole the ball from Gonzalo Pineda inside the box and took a quick angled shot.
With Mexico's hopes fading, Donovan pull down the curtain in second half stoppage time. After receiving the ball in the center circle from a fortunate bounce, Donovan blazed past two Mexican defenders, raced some 35 yards into the penalty area, then rounded Sanchez in the box before slotting home.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
