The U.S. menÆs national soccer team will be absent from the Olympics for the first time since the 1980 Games. A 4-0 loss to host Mexico in front of 60,000 fans in the semifinals of CONCACAF qualifying eliminated the Americans.

Mexico will be joined in Greece as the regionÆs representatives along with Costa Rica, a 2-0 winner over Honduras in the other semifinal.

Coach Glenn MyernickÆs U.S. U-23 squad started the tournament with wins over Panama, Canada and Honduras, scoring 10 goals in three games, before getting shut out by the Mexicans.

Mexican goalkeeper Jose De Jesus Corona was forced to make only one save — off a second-half Landon Donovan header. The Mexicans dominated in possession and, in addition to their four strikes, were denied several other golden opportunities by U.S. keeper D.J. Countess and the post.

The Mexicans, who ruled over the American backline of Chris Wingert, Nat Borchers, Chad Marshall and Ricky Lewis, scored their first in the 27th minute when Rafael Marquez headed home from 4 yards after a cross from the right wing. A minute later, Diego Martinez, who hit the cross to Marquez, hit another cross that sailed straight into the net over Countess.

U.S. playermaker, Bobby Convey, who scored four goals in dominating performances earlier in the tournament, was practically invisible, as was Donovan. DaMarcus Beasley threatened only in the first half.

Bringing in midfielder Kyle Beckerman for left back Wingert, whose flank had been so badly exploited, and changing from a 4-4-2 to a 5-3-2, did nothing to improve the American game. In fact, Countess had to make two tough saves in the first two minutes of the second half.

Marquez made it 3-0 after hammering a 14-yard shot into the net after Borchers blocked his first attempt. Ismael Iniguez made it 4-0 on a breakaway in stoppage time.

CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying (U-23s), Semifinal

Feb. 10 in Guadalajara

Mexico 4 USA 0.

Goals: Marquez 27, 55, Martinez 28, Iniguez 90.

Mexico — Corona, Galindo, I.Rodriguez, F.Rodriguez, M.Perez, Espinoza, Martinez, Ponce, L.E.Perez (Sandoval, 78), Garcia (Pineda, 67), Marquez (Iniguez, 80).

USA — Countess, Wingert (Beckerman, 46), Borchers, Marshall, Lewis, Pause, Beasley, Davis (Gaven, 76), Convey, Donovan, Johnson (Eskandarian, 63)

Yellow cards: Mexico — L.E. Perez 3; USA — Borchers 35, 74, Lewis 76.

Red card: USA — Borchers 74.

Referee: Neal Brizan (TRI) Att.: 60,000.