U.S. Men: Mexico downs USA 2-1 to take U.S. Cup ’99

In front of a festive soccer crowd of 50,324 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, the U.S. national team dropped a 2-1 decision to regional rival Mexico. With the win, Mexico claims the Nike U.S. Cup ’99 title, its third consecutive U.S. Cup crown after wins in 1996 and ’97. The loss was the USA’s first since Bruce Arena, who now holds a 3-1-2 record with the national team, took over last October. The match opened at an incredibly fast pace, as both teams looked to establish midfield dominance. The USA had the better of the early play, but Mexican keeper Oscar Perez did well to keep the game scoreless; Brian McBride forced Perez into making back-to-back saves in the second minute and Cobi Jones nearly beat the keeper on the dribble eleven minutes later. And although the USA outshot Mexico 8-3 in the first half, it was Mexico that took the lead first. Mexico went ahead 1-0 in the 14th minute after a U.S. own goal. Mexican midfielder Jose Manuel Abundis penetrated deep into the left corner and sent a dangerous, bending cross directly in front of the net. As Fraser and Mexican forward Francisco Palencia converged on Abundis’ cross, the ball inadvertently bounced off the U.S. defender and into the net. U.S. ‘keeper Tony Meola was hit in the face by Palencia and was forced to leave the match. Meola would need 25 stitches to close the gash in and around his mouth. After the goal, the U.S. once again had a number of opportunities; Kirovski sailed a shot over the bar on 20 minutes, Fraser had his dangerous header saved in the 36th, and Eddie Lewis also had a shot saved by Perez in the 38th minute. After the halftime break the U.S. scored the equalizer, with Frankie Hejduk netting his second goal in consecutive matches with the national team. Robin Fraser started the play with his overlapping run on the right side. Fraser’s cross from the endline was poorly cleared and Hejduk was well-positioned to hit a first-time shot that beat Perez from eleven yards. But six minutes later the Mexicans found themselves in the lead again, this time for good. Joel Sanchez, who scored both goals in Mexico’s 2-1 victory over Bolivia on Thursday, got off a rocket shot from 12 yards. Thornton did well to make the initial reaction save, but the ball bounded to the feet of a wide-open Abundis, who had an empty net tap in from two yards to close out the scoring. The U.S. nearly equalized again in the 78th minute, but Ben Olsen’s spectacular bicycle kick was saved at the far post by Perez. The Mexican netminder made a total of nine saves in the match. In the second game of today’s U.S. Cup doubleheader, Guatemala outlasted Bolivia, 2-1, to finish third overall in the tournament. The Guatemalan goals were scored by Jorge Perez and Edgar Valencia. March 13 in San Diego, Calif. USA 1 Mexico 2. Goals: Hejduk 51; own goal 14, Abundis 57. USA — Meola (Thornton, 17), Regis, Agoos, Fraser, Pope (Olsen, 67), Lewis (Mathis, 82), Armas, Kirovski, Hejduk, Jones, McBride. Mexico — Perez, Sanchez, Pardo, Carmona (Zepeda, 46), Beltran, Lara, Garcia Aspe, Garcia (Ramirez, 58), Blanco (Hernandez, 46), Palencia (Chavez, 55), Abundis (Pelaez, 76). Yellow cards: Mexico — Garcia Aspe 58, Hernandez 89, Lara 90. Referee: Rene Parra (Canada). Att.: 50,324. Guatemala 2 Bolivia 1. Goals: Perez 18, Valencia 26; Farah 49. Guatemala — Engelenton, Molina (Pascal, 46), Caceres, Perez, Rafael, Rojas, Ortega, Ruano, Machon, Valencia (Miranda, 67), Julio Rodas (Ruiz, 78). Bolivia — Barrero, Sandy (Farah, 46), Cristaldo, I.Castillo (Uriona, 46), S.Castillo (Ramos, 46), Liendo (Rea, 85), Etcheverry, Coimbra, Pena, Jiguchi (Rojas, 81), Suarez. Yellow cards: Bolivia — Liendo 35, Coimbra 48, Cristaldo 52. Referee: Brian Hall (USA). Att.: 50,324.

Final U.S. Cup ’99 Standings