The U.S. streak of having qualified for every FIFA outdoor world championship since 1995 and having played in or qualified for every men's Olympic soccer tournament since 1980 is over.
Mexico beat the United States, 4-0, Tuesday night at Guadalajara's Jalisco Stadium in the poorest showing by an American team in a big game in more than a decade.
Supported by a vocal crowd of 60,000 Tapatio fans, the Mexicans were given acres of room down the right wing and scored twice in a minute midway through the first half. Captain Diego Martinez was given plenty of time to send a cross to Rafael Marquez, who was wide open in front of the goal. A Martinez cross found the far post for the second goal.
The idea of an American reaction in the second half proved to be a foolish thought as the Mexicans attacked in waves with little resistance. Only several great saves by keeper D.J. Countess kept the game close.
Martinez scored on a volley off a rebound of his own shot in the 55th minute, and Ismael Iniguez had a breakaway for the fourth goal in stoppage time.
The Americans finished with 10 men after Nat Borchers was sent off for a second yellow card in the 74th minute.
Borchers and the rest of the U.S. backline was once again badly exposed. The Americans have conceded 10 goals in four games. Equally culpable was the much-heralded attack trio of Landon Donovan, Bobby Convey and DaMarcus Beasley. They were invisible most of the game.
The loss ends an era for the age group that finished fourth at the 1999 Under-17 World Cup and reached the second round at the 2001 World Youth Championship.
Costa Rica also qualified for Athens 2004, beating Honduras, 2-0, in the first semifinal.
The final and third-place game — both meaningless — take place Thursday.
MEXICO-USA SUMMARY:
Feb. 10 in Guadalajara
Mexico 4 USA 0. Goals: Marquez 27, 55, Martinez 28, Iniguez 90.
Mexico — Corona, Galindo, F.Rodriguez, I.Rodriguez, M.Perez, Espinoza, Martinez, Ponce, L.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).
Red card: USA — Borchers 74.
Referee: Neal Brizan (Trin. & Tobago).
Att.: 60,000.