USA 0-5 Mexico: Why it Matters

July 27th, 2009 | by: Daryl |

USA fans will claim that this was only their B team/second string and it was only the Gold Cup anyway. They can even claim that Mexico were lucky to win that penalty kick for the first goal. And they’ll definitely have a point.

But Mexico fans will still celebrate lifting the Gold Cup with a convincing 5-0 win, and not just because the trophy is so big.

Here’s why:

First of all, it was 5-0. Beating your bitter rival 5-0 has got to feel good, no matter which string team it is. And vice versa for losing 5-0.

Secondly – and more importantly – this win removes a huge psychological barrier for Mexico, as it’s El Tri’s first away win over the USA in a over a decade (since March ‘99, in case your were wondering). Doesn’t matter that this was a US reserve team. The record now shows that on July 26th, 2009, Mexico beat the USA 5-0 in New York (or, technically, New Jersey). Talk of Mexico’s decade long drought has to end now.

“I believe this is a great win for Mexico because we showed the pride we have in our hearts today,” Giovani Dos Santos said. “This is a huge step for us in the process.”

So Mexican confidence gets a boost and the balance of the US vs Mexico rivalry (which has been tipping towards the US in recent years) just received a small course correction.

And though it wasn’t the USA’s first XI that took a beating, it did feature players one day hope to make the proper starting XI (Stuart Holden perhaps?). Guys of the Landon Donovan generation are used to beating Mexico regularly, and could go into matches vs El Tri with a certain swagger. But guys like Stuart Holden will now carry the memory of this beating with them into future encounters.

Am I reading too much into this result? Maybe I am. But anyone who dismisses it as meaningless is reading too little.

Of course, the US has a chance to regain a convincing advantage on August 12th, when the travel to the Azteca for a World Cup 2010 qualifier. The flipside of Mexico’s ten year drought was that the US national team has never beaten Mexico at the Azteca. Ever. So if they can pull that off next month, then the time Mexico won a Gold Cup final in New Jersey will be forgotten.

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http://fulham.theoffside.com timmyg

I’m not dismissing it, but I will take the match with a huge grain of salt.

Because that wasn’t the USMNT’s B team, or their reserves or their JV squad.

It was their development squad, their AA team, practice squad, pickup team — whatever you want to call it.

How many ofnthe roster yesterday will even make the initial 2010 squad? Three? And how many will actually make the 2010 roster? One?

It sucks, and kudos to Mexico. But how about some perspective.
morpheus

I agree with everything. This loss might not have been as painful if the it would have been a 1-0, or even 2-0, loss. But, losing to anyone 5-0 is a disgrace. And the fact that the US “reserve” team didn’t even have the heart to finish the game, excluding Ching who played hard the whole game, really bothers me. The defence gave up as was obvious by the 3rd goal, IIRC.

I hope those players feel bad b/c they sure looked terrible. And this loss should stay with most of them for a long time b/c they might not be playing for the US again for a while.
someone

well, it was mexicos b squad too.
sandrahn

“well, it was mexicos b squad too.” — exactly. The Americans are so bent out of shape they come up with excuses for the team selection, ignoring the fact that this Mexico team was not the strongest one possible either.
Alan

I think a bad point for the US was that it looked like they knew they were the third team and started playing like it. Any team from any country does need a certain amount of pride, also try telling the Mexican team on August 12th that they haven’t beaten the US, the boost it gives them is real
http://juventus.theoffside.com alessio

Jersey isn’t part of the US, pshaw, we’re good
jr

Once again our big ben (BB)delivers green eggs and ham. It might have been Mexico’s B team but it was our F team that took the prize. What is the point of going to a tournament if you bring totally unprepared players – The expectations for A, B or C squad is that they can compete and regardless of what level the other side may be, if your team does not compete at that level then all you build is anger and disappointment with your fans – BB has certainly perfected that side of the game. It’s embarrassing and I don’t put the responsibility on the players (who should be embarrassed) but that belongs on one man – Technical Director -
Fabricio

I think it is worth mentioning that this was Mexico’s B/C squad too. Most of the Mexican players that won the Gold Cup won’t even be at the next World Cup Qualifier at the Azteca anyway (maybe 1 or 2), so for US fans to dismiss this result because Bradley chose a B squad is absolutely ridiculous. Mexico gave the US a border beatdown. The US has a 0-1-22 (W-D-L) record in the Azteca, and a 0-1-12 record for World Cup Qualifiers at the Azteca, so when the USA’s “A” team (if we continue to use these bullshi* categories which have no meaning anyway) lose to Mexico’s “A” team, which in all likelihood, will probably occur, I hope the USA fans can be more mature about it and not make up any more excuses.
OhYes

It matters a lot even if it is two B squads. The whole point of having a B squad is to have something in development for the future, and to have people to fall back on if something goes wrong in the A team.

And the USNT just showed what they have on reserve. It’s not the 5-0 that mattered to me, it’s the way some of those players gave up after 3 or so goals. Losing 5-0 to your rivals is just downright embarrassing but giving up with your nation’s badge over your chest is just the worst.
http://Mexico Daniel

Honestly, I’am Mexican and I’m happy with the win, but I’m a Concacaf patriot too and want strong teams, including US, Costa Rica, Panama and all the other. For the level of Concacaf it is healthy that the winner alternates. It will press the teams to perform their best. I would like to have a strong Concacaf, as strong as South-America and Europe. In these terms, the competition between Mexico and the US is good. Hopefully, this competition will push them both to achieve their bes. For me, sport is wonderful. I want to be a goo winner and a good loser because it is part of sport.
Matthew

This was a huge win for Mexico any way you put it. It was also not Mexico’s A team. However having this crew of future prospects having this major loss in mind will motivate them in the future, not hinder them as said. Big losses can have either effects, but I think since this is the biggest rival for each team it will energize them to play better next time. The players may be cautious, but I would not be surprised if next time the “B” team faces Mexico, the result will be very different.
http://seldonmatrix.com/ Hari Seldon

Hey, just so you know. Yes, this was the USA’s reserve team, but without Pardo, Borghetti, Salcido, Marquez, Blanco, Leandro, or Guardado, it could be argued this was Mexico’s “B” team as well….
richard

Borgetti?…bloody hell, man. why not complain that Zague, Luis Hernandez, Jorge Negrete and Hugo Sanchez didn’t play, either?
wren

Not to mention Osorio, Franscico Javier Rodriguez, Sinha, Luis Ernesto Perez, Arce, Castillo, or Fonseca. The US can make all the excuses they want, but the bottom line is they were throttled at home against an equally inexperienced Mexico squad. Unfortunately it came down to talent and despite moments of brilliance from Robbie Rogers and Stuart Holden, overall the US squad was no match for Mexico, especially Vela and Dos Santos.
http://www.myspace.com Tommy Wong

Blanco ins Mexico’s A team? I think not.
http://cdg.theoffside.com Andrea

Yeah, both teams didn’t have their starters. But really, this Gio quote says it best.

“The game was played by national team players. We didn’t have all of our players from qualifying either. We won the tournament and it does not matter who was here and who wasn’t. We were better than them. That’s the coach’s decision, to make up the roster and to fill out the lineup.”
James

“USA fans will claim that this was only their B team/second string and it was only the Gold Cup anyway. ”

It’s not like Mexico had a full strength side anyways. USA fans are just trying to numb the pain. :D
James

I definitely think Osorio and Salcido along with other players who’ve gotten a bit too comfortable in the Mexican jersey to get a wake-up call. They need to understand that we will no longer accept mediocrity and their prima dona attitudes!
iloveyoubaby

i am the happiest person in the world that MEXICO won USA!!!!! it was the best game i have ever seen so stop making lame exuses MEXICO won fair and square
Mark

Nobody ever said it wasn’t Mexico’s B Team, we all know that both team fielded reserves. That’s why the game was pointless.
morpheus

The game wasn’t pointless. There is no such thing as a pointless game. The results might be pointless, but all these players (on both teams) gained international experience that they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. This is good for the development of the younger players.

I will say that the 2 forwards for Mexico that play in Spain’s 1st division should be regular starters for thier national team. They looked really quick and had great vision.
Pseudinho

It was actually our “C” squad our 3rd string. Of our guys that played only Pearce made the bench for the Confederations Cup and Perkins as our 3rd keeper. Mexico had a mix of it’s first string and second string guys. When two even countries play and one uses 3rd string players and the other uses a mix of first string and second string players it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who’s gonna win. I think Bradley should have used his provisional roster guys as well as guys who left the team early like Cherundolo and Davies to be with their club. That said I agree that it does mean something and I think Mexico got over a huge mental hurdle that the U.S. had over them for the last decade.
Pseudinho

The two forwards for Mexico where Gio and Sabah. Gio plays for Tottenham and Sabah plays in the Mexican Primera. They brought in Vela who to me changed the game and he plays for Arsenal. They later brought in Franco who played at Villarreal but is now unattached to any club. They also left Bravo on the bench who plays with Andres Guardado on Deportivo la Coruna.

I’m assuming the two guys you were referring to were Vela and Gio because those were the two guys that made everything happen for them. Those two both play in the Premier League not in Spain.
Jose

Actually, the United States played its G side, while Mexico played its C+ side, as you’ll see if any of you analyzed the rosters based on average roster inclusion in the previous 50 games, accounting for injuries and the weather (we all know Ching only starts when when humidity is > 50%).

The worst part is some of you actually thought I was serious just then.

There were no roster restrictions. It was the final of a regional tournament. Both sides fielded relatively young players. And the United States got mauled 5-0. Please be more gracious in defeat than you usually are in victory.
SP

i don’t care what squads were playing. i’m a USMNT supporter and that match hurt.
Byron

It’s true both teams had young squads… True both teams had B and C players. But what a 5-0 loss between B and C players means is that all you have is 1 good “A” team. Mexico showed that their young players are way better then those of the US squad. Edu will never play at the level Gio and Vela do. Why? Because the US is a defensive team.
Nick

It was funny to see Mexico and their fans celebrate a meaningless win like they won the World Cup. Even if the USA had won 5-0 I really wouldn’t have cared…what I care about is August 12. That’s the real challenge.If we can get a miracle win (or even draw) in Mexico City we can really hurt their chances going to WC2010. I would love to see Mexico miss the World Cup!

Tell me Mexico,you beat a bunch of guys who with the exception of Holden will likely never play an important match for the USA again…so..what did you REALLY win? Nothing,that’s what! See you on the 12th!
Adriana

Nick: It’s funny to read your comment, I’m sure you wouldn’t say the same if US had won. The WIN was not meaningless, a true fan (which I think you are not) takes EVERY game seriously. By the way it was amazing to see 90% of the fans in the Giants Stadium supporting the Mexican team! And they support them wherever they play, either in Mexico or USA. What a shame for the US so called “fans.” Looks like you choose when to support your team…To answer your question at the end, MEXICO WON THE GOLD CUP, that’s what we won, and an immensely joyful humiliation to the US team. No matter what, that team represented the USA, Uncle Sam, 50 states, Star Spangled Banner,etc etc period. Finally, why would you love to see Mexico miss the World Cup? I guess… because this defeat really hurt you, though you don’t want to accept it! ha ha ha LMAO
kevin

Nick-if usa beated mexico 5-0 I know u would of gone crazy and every usa fan would…usa always has an excuse when they lose but I mean always…this a squad b sqaud is bs…so usa only wins and matters when they have an a squad..in copa america mexico finished in 3 behind brazil and argentina and that mexico squad wasn’t their strongest A squad..with pinto, ochoa, correa,nery and more not having much or at all experience…usa fans are just embarrassed and should be and don’t want to admit they lost fair and square…how can 1 penalty goal end up to being 4 more..that shows you how weak mls is
kevin

Nick-if usa beated mexico 5-0 I know u would of gone crazy and every usa fan would…usa always has an excuse when they lose but I mean always…this a squad b sqaud is bs…so usa only wins and matters when they have an a squad..in copa america mexico finished in 3 behind brazil and argentina and that mexico squad wasn’t their strongest..with pinto, ochoa, correa,nery and more not having much or at all experience…usa fans are just embarrassed and should be and don’t want to admit they lost fair and square…how can 1 penalty goal end up to being 4 more..that shows you how weak mls is
Teak

This rivalry is good for futbol. I don’t care that the USA lost so much as I am glad that the “second stringers” got a chance to play some pressure futbol against Mexico’s second stringers. Good for the game. I think that both Stuart Holden and Robbie Rogers have a good chance at making the first team given their outstanding performances, title game excepted.
Sneakers O’Toole

If we take some sort of points from the Azteca, who gives a hoot what happened in the battle of countries that only cared some about the Gold Cup?

It was a win for me seeing Holden step into the limelight and seeing Beckerman pan out rather well during this tourney. Rogers as well.
dani

the gold cup was not why the mexican team was celebrating, it was becuase mexico finally beat the USA team in USA, which is a really big boost for the mexican team.

it doesnt matter if it was 5-0 or 1-0 a win is a win.
thats all i got to say
Nick

Look…Mexico deserved this Gold Cup…and they kicked the USA’s ass fair and square…BUT this isn’t some kind of renaissance for El Tri,there wasn’t any curse broken. All they did was beat a really weak squad of ours.It’s not an excuse it’s just reality. In Mexico City things will be different,I expect Mexico to still win but guys like Donovan,Altidore,and Davies won’t give up as easy as our GC team did!
alex

yea mayb that first goal was given…BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER FOUR????????..cmon…excuses excuses….”this was our B team”…”we didnt have out starters”….”there young”….this was also mexico’s B team…

cant wait for aug 12th….
dfghsd

well we know that wont happen again cause the US continues to progress and NOTHING can stop that. Lets look forward to the Aug 12 march and the coming U-17 and U-20 World cups this year.
And the mexicans are getting a false sense of confidence. They struggled to get past Costa Rica. They tied Panama. The final was a home match for them, just look at the LARGE mexican crowd. And if they say they also fielded their “B” team, have they seen their A squad play any better in qualifying games. HA haha, i NEVER THOUGHT a B squad would play better than the A squad!!!!..Their A squad has struggled not only against the US but also against the likes of Honduras, Jamaica and T&tobago. On the other hand our US A squad is light years ahead of that crappy B-/C+ us team.
http://myspace.com/calculatortimes Edgar

2nd string?!? HA! Id like to see England bring their “2nd String” team to compete for the UEFA Cup. I’m I the only one that knows what really happened?!?! Bob Bradley got cocky, brought this team of young uprising players mixed with players he took to Confederations cup and got handled by a better team. THATS IT. Wow guys, open your eyes.
hedson

A team! B team! who cares, mexico won, usa lost, that is a fact no matter what you say to diminish mexican victry. As a country you have a mentality of winning no matter what!, that is why it hurts you. But anyway mexico played better and scored this makes a team to win and not names or history, if you keep claiming it was due to the bcdefg team is your fault, because you regarded litle importance to the contest.
Rolando

This comment is to that guy that wishes mexico out of the world cup bruce arena once said that in the aztec stadium one can never play a second half(elevation pollution etc etc)so my point is that usa has its own curse in beating mexico in mexico city …careful what you wish for….oh and remmember what happened to the usa in the last world cup with their A team they got beat by ganna and sent back not even making it to the second phase of the tournament …. Personally be thankful that mexico even exists who would you beat if not?? Haha.. Ps support your team no matter what this is to mexican and american fans….
Tom

Edgar, what Gold Cup did you watch? The only player on the USA Confederation Cup roster to play in the Gold Cup was Charlie Davies. And he didn’t play in the game against Mexico. I can’t wait for Wednesday. Derailing El Tri’s 2010 World Cup efforts will be fun to watch.
saul

it would be hard to beat Mexico in the Azteca BUT ITS NOT INPOSSIABLE. but yet usa NEVER beat Mexico in the azteca. and if Mexico loses OR even ties it would be very hard for Mexico to go to the world cup.=) and both usa and Mexico will have their A-team. so on august 12th its gonna be a good game. usa will try to get revenge on Mexico and slim their changes to go to the world cup, and Mexico will try to get another great win over the usa… BUT i think usa is going to win OR tie because thier A-team is much better than mexico’s A-team…
Joe

too bad that mexico kicked the usa as in the world cup and today haha XD
mexico is gonna qualifiy i love mexico.
saul

joe: mexico IS NOT gonna qualify for the world cup!! and mexico and usa only faced each other ONCE in the world cup! and that was in the 2002 world cup and USA WON 2-0 in the quarter finals!!! YOU should really do your research dumbass!!!