US-Mexico countdown: No. 9

No 9. World Cup qualifier, Mexico City; March 27, 2005: Mexico 2, United States 1.

For the United States, this match represented Bruce Arena's third (and what would be his final) chance of winning in the famed Estadio Azteca, where the U.S. had never even scored a goal. Mexico, meanwhile, were hoping to solidify their position in qualifying after a solid victory in Costa Rica to kick off the Hexagonal. It was the Mexicans who took control of the match early on. Despite familiarity with the conditions in Azteca, Arena's team nonetheless hit the wall at the half hour mark (Arena would later say) and Mexico capitalized. Jared Borgetti scored on the half-hour while Zinha added the match-winner three minutes later. Eddie Lewis scored a historic goal for the Americans in the second half but the goal was ultimately of little consequence. Mexico choked the life out of the match over the final half hour as a strong and confident Tri side dispatched of their northern neighbors on Mexican soil yet again - the Americans held an 0-22-1 mark against Mexico in Mexico following this latest setback.

Lineups

United States: Kasey Keller; Carlos Bocanegra (Pat Noonan, 75), Gregg Berhalter, Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo (Brian McBride, 83); Pablo Mastroeni (Steve Ralston, 70), Claudio Reyna, Eddie Lewis, DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan; Eddie Johnson.

Mexico: Oswaldo Sanchez; Salvador Carmona, Rafael Marquez, Ricardo Osorio, Carlos Salcido; Jaime Lozano (Luis Perez, 68), Pavel Pardo, Antonio Naelson "Zinha"; Francisco Fonseca, Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Ramon Morales, 68), Jared Borgetti (Alberto Medina, 65).

Goals
Mexico - Borgetti 30
Mexico - Zinha 33
US - Lewis 59

(video of the first two goals are available but not the US goal)