USA vs. Mexico: 'Dos-a-cero'

Fans unfurl a large U.S. flag after the U.S. National Team scored their second goal against Mexico at Columbus Crew Stadium on September 10, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio. (Getty Images)

“Dos a cero” is a chant that is going to haunt every Mexican, especially if El Tri fail to make it to Brazil. That is the chant that reverberated around the stadium in Columbus, Ohio as the clock wound down on the World Cup qualifier between the USMNT and Mexico.

About an hour later, the draw between Honduras and Panama closed the deal – “We are going to Brazil!” The other, slightly premature, chant hurled at the Mexicans was “You are not going to Brazil”. There are still two rounds to go and Mexico could still finish third (automatic qualification), or finish fourth and win a playoff against New Zealand.

There are some sinister conspiracy theories about the US throwing its game against Panama if it comes down to the last game for the fourth spot. I will confess I like that conspiracy. Hey, they are our “derby” rivals and have long looked down their noses at us. They are down and this long suffering US fan would like nothing better than to figuratively “stamp on them when they are on the ground”. Take no prisoners!

Sometimes lightning does strike twice. For the second time in two weeks, I saw a team depleted by injuries and suspensions pull off a comprehensive win over their most hated rivals. I was sorely tempted to add “lack of transfers”, but Jurgen Klinsmann has actually been very successful on the World Cup equivalent of the transfer market.

Given the proclivity of players to hit the ground each time there is so much as a gust of wind, I like to call it his “sign then dive” campaign by recruiting US eligible players from all over the planet – Denmark (Mukkel Diskerud), Austria (Terrence Boyd), Philippines (Nick Rimando). This was my “other” team, the USMNT, taking Mexico to the woodshed for what is becoming a traditional whooping.

In each of the last four World Cup qualifiers that we have entertained Mexico at Columbus, we have sent them packing with an identical 2-0 (“Dos a cero” in Spanish) margin. Going into the game, the US were literally without their best player on each line – Matt Besler in central defence, Michael Bradley in midfield and Jozy Altidore up front. Geoff Cameron, another key player, was also out on suspension.

The US had just seen an incredible 12-match winning streak broken at Costa Rica. Add to that, Mexico had just replaced their coach after a home loss to Honduras. You may wonder how that could work against the US. Well, the past two World Cup qualifiers, El Tri followed a pattern of poor results, a coaching change and an immediate resurgence that helped them qualify.

For the first twenty minutes, the game seemed to be heading in the wrong direction. The US were pinned back in their own third, while the Mexicans were passing the ball around nonchalantly. It seemed like every time the play was broken up, the US would promptly pass the ball right back to the Mexicans. I kept praying this was the football version of “rope-a-dope”.

In a strange way, it almost was just that. Perhaps Klinsmann had watched the Mexico-Honduras game. Mexico started brightly, took the lead at about the fourth minute and looked set to inflict a mauling.

Landon Donovan #10 celebrates his second half goal against Mexico at Columbus Crew Stadium on September 10, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio. The United States defeated Mexico 2-0. (Getty Images)

However, after the initial dominance, Honduras started to come back. As they grew stronger, Mexico seemed to run out of ideas. After those twenty minutes, which saw Tim Howard having to pull off two very smart saves, the game began to turn.

The US were beginning to catch Mexico on the counter. Then came the huge, flashing danger sign – Omar Gonzales drawing a defender on a corner kick, while Eddie Johnson swung in right behind for a free header for a nice save by the keeper.

Within minutes of the restart for the second half, another corner kick saw Clarence Goodson making the run to carve space for Johnson. The keeper came out this time, leaving Johnson a simple header right down the centre of the goal.

That was it. You could literally see the fight go out of the Mexicans. “Rope-a-dope” had worked. They still had plenty of possession, but hardly ever made inroads in the final third. Lacking size up front, the Mexicans had to make inroads down the middle. They did try tossing a few crosses – child’s play for the 6’5” Gonzales.

Meanwhile, the US possessions were getting more and more threatening. That second goal almost seemed inevitable and everything in its development seemed unavoidable – you could picture it a fraction of a second before it happened.

A dink past the defence by Diskerud, a quick look up and cross along the ground, the feather touch by Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan to finish. “Dos a cero”! One could almost forget the last minute theatrics, a penalty to rub it in at 3-0. The whole nation probably let out a sigh of relief when Dempsey blasted it wide. You don’t want to mess with this kind of karma!

“Dos-a-cero!”