By Ridge Mahoney in Houston
One of the more intense yet dour battles in the USA-Mexico rivalry resulted in 11 shots, no goals, and few opportunities for a crowd of 69,582 to cut loose.
A mostly pro-Mexican crowd filled Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL Texans, to see its team in Houston for the first time in several years. For the second straight game, Mexico carried much of the play, but as had been the case in a 0-0 tie with Brazil April 30, it was unable to score.
As it had done in beating Mexico, 2-0, at the World Cup last year, the U.S. played 3-5-2. Eddie Pope anchored a three-man back line that midfielder Frankie Hejduk occasionally assisted by dropping into a right-back role. While Hejduk tended mainly to defensive chores, DaMarcus Beasley buzzed frequently up the left side to get in behind the Mexican defense.
''That was by design,'' said Hejduk. ''Bruce told me to stay back if I had to. And for most of the first half we weren't holding the ball well and there weren't many chances to get forward.''
''Our combinations really weren't there today. It was two or three passes and then lose the ball. But our game today was counterattacking and with two or three passes you can get chances.''
The U.S. defended stoutly and once it adjusted to the pace and pressure applied by the Mexicans, cracked open their defense several times only to squander the chances with poor finishing.
Landon Donovan and Brian McBride started up front with Clint Mathis in the hole behind them. Mathis threw himself into tackles and sliced open the Mexican defense a few times before running dry late in the first half.
The USA sat back for the first half an hour. A seven-man wall of American defenders blunted most of the attacks but seldom could the U.S. maintain possession.
''The last 15 or 20 minutes we started to get forward,'' said Brian McBride. ''It took us awhile to adjust to their pressure.''
Mathis worked hard both offensively and defensively and served up a good ball that put McBride on the left side of the box but his right-footed shot missed the near post.
McBride won his duels in the air but shot poorly. He chested down a ball from Donovan and then shot from the left so badly the ball went out for a throw-in. He also failed to connect with a Convey cross from a few yards out.
The U.S. had four shots — not much to show for 90 minutes of effort — yet had at least three makeable chances.
Beasley blazed wide of the near post from a Donovan feed and also misfired, or more accurately, mis-trapped an excellent header from Mathis after Bocanegra had crossed from the left. Beasley crunched and was crunched numerous times by Hector Alamarino and Jesus Arellano in a struggle for control of that flank.
''We didn't play as well as we should have,'' said Beasley. ''We didn't kick the ball a lot in the first half. Give credit to Mexico, they kicked the ball pretty well. We did well when we attacked them.''
In his first national team appearance in nearly a year, Chris Armas broke up attacks and also got the ball to teammates out of tight spaces. Mexico controlled play in the middle third in the first half yet on only a few occasions got the ball to forward Adolfo Bautista and Omar Bravo in shooting positions.
''Typical game for Chris,'' said Hejduk. ''He played great for not being there for a while. It was a hard-fought game for him.''
Play opened up in the second half after Earnie Stewart replaced Mathis and Convey came on for Mastroeni. Pope and Danny Califf occasionally stepped forward to thwart attacks but at times soft defending on the outside left room.
''They played with a lot of guys in the midfield,'' said Pope. ''Sometimes we stepped up and that can leave a little bit of a hole. When they got five in the midfield, we have to play three [in the back] and match that.''
Mexico, though, generated only seven shots and for the third time in six games under Argentine coach Ricardo LaVolpe, who replaced Javier Aquirre after the 2002 World Cup, was shut out.
Keeper Tim Howard had five saves but only a blast from Arellano midway through the first half required any real effort. Howard turned the ball over the bar for a corner.
''The first half we were very poor,'' said Arena. ''In the second half we made some adjustments. Our team's match fitness isn't where it needs to be for the international level. That is the result of their one month into their club seasons in MLS.''