USA soccer plays Mexico to a 2-2 tie in Houston

By: Travis Yoesting

Posted: 2/7/08

It's Rivalry Week on ESPN, but with all due respect to Tobacco Road and the Red River, the biggest rivalry Wednesday night was across the Rio Grande.
While many American sports fans may have been glued to the UNC-Duke match-up or the Texas-OU game, the best rivalry game in North America Wednesday was between USA and Mexico in an international soccer friendly.
But don't let the label 'friendly' fool you. As usual, Wednesday's game was anything but genial.
Mexico and United States played to a 2-2 draw in front of a raucous sold-out crowd of 70,103 in Reliant Stadium in Houston. Between the two teams, six yellow cards were shown, 32 fouls were called and plenty of heated words were exchanged.
The Americans opened up the scoring in the 29th minute after a throw-in from Oguchi Onyewu. Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa swatted the ball across the 18 yard box where Landon Donovan lobbed the ball back across to Onyewu who headed the ball into the net off the far post.
It did not take long for the Mexicans to respond as they scored off a set piece five minutes later. Defender Jonny Magallon's out-stretched leg knocked in a set piece cross into the back of the net.
Mexico dominated the time of possession for much of the game and outshot the U.S. 13-3 forcing goalkeeper Tim Howard to make six saves in the game.
In the 40th minute, however, 18-year-old Jozy Altidore headed in a cross from Drew Moor to give the Americans a 2-1 lead.
The play started when Bobby Convey took a long pass from Howard into open space on a counterattack. Indecision slowed down the attack before he passed to the coach's son Michael Bradley who switched the ball to Moor who sent in the cross.
"It was nice to see Jozy get his first goal," US Men's National Team coach Bob Bradley told ESPN after the game.
Bradley went on to say it was good for Altidore to play all 90 minutes in a game like this and that although he was tired, it was a good stepping stone for the youngster.
It appeared the Americans had increased their lead before the half when hometown favorite Clint Dempsey made a nifty move across the 18 yard box and shot past Ochoa. However, it was called back for an apparent offside call.
"I was told it was offside," Bradley told ESPN at halftime. He continued saying he was unsure on what part of the play the offside was called.
Mexico came out quickly in the second half and scored the equalizer in the 47th minute. Once again, Magallon scored by deflecting a cross in off a set piece. It was his second goal of the game and his career.
From there, the game opened up and Mexico found they had plenty of room to run at the U.S. defense. Bob Bradley made some key substitutions in the 60th minute as Benny Feilhaber and Freddy Adu came in for Michael Bradley and Dempsey. These changes evened out the possession as both teams had chances to break the tie.
In the end, however, the game would end tied 2-2. But neither team went down without a fight.
Mexico was called for 13 fouls and the U.S. was whistled 19 times. Carlos Salcido and Gerardo Torrado earned yellows for the Mexicans; Michael Bradley, Onyewu, Altidore and Ramiro Corrales were carded for the Americans.
"There were some good things that you need to see," Bob Bradley said. "We still need to keep improving."
The tie continued the American's unbeaten streak against the Mexicans when playing on American soil. They are now 8-0-2 since 2000. Mexico still leads the all-time series 29-14-11.
Magallon told ESPN after the game that it was a moral victory for Mexico and something they could build on. Both teams begin World Cup 2010 qualifying in a few months.