Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Mexico wins 1st qualifier in U.S. since 1972
COLUMBUS, OHIO >> Rafa Marquez scored a tiebreaking goal on a header in the 89th minute, giving Mexico a 2-1 win Friday night and its first victory at the United States in World Cup qualifying since 1972.
Miguel Layun put Mexico ahead in the 20th minute in the opener of the final round of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean, but Bobby Wood tied the score in the 49th.
The U.S. dominated the second half before the 37-yearold Marquez, unmarked and drifting across the penalty area at the near post, got the back of his head on Layun’s corner kick. The Mexican captain lifted the ball over goalkeeper Brad Guzan for his 17th international goal.
The U.S. had beaten Mexico four straight times by 2-0 scores in home qualifiers — all at Columbus — and the Americans had been 30-0-2 at home in qualifying since a 3-2 loss to Honduras at Washington’s RFK Stadium in September 2001.
Mexico’s previous win at the U.S. in qualifying was also by a 2-1 score, at Los Angeles.
“I think we deserved this match,” Layun said. “We were focused.”
Guzan had lost the U.S. goalkeeper job to Tim Howard, who started at the last two World Cups. But Howard injured his right leg on a goal kick and was replaced in the 40th minute.
The Americans play Tuesday at Costa Rica, where is has never won in qualifying, in the second of its 10 games in the round. Mexico hosts Panama.
With the U.S. struggling early in a 3-5-2 formation, Mexico could have led 3-0. Howard tipped Jesus Corona’s 10th-minute shot off a post and Carlos Vela’s 25thminute header hit a crossbar.
After switching to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation in the 27th minute, the Americans began to find their rhythm, and Wood scored off a pass from Jozy Altidore.
It was 44 degrees at game time, half the 90-degree temperature for the 2013 match in Columbus, when the U.S. clinched its seventh straight World Cup berth.
A pro-American crowd of 24,650 chanted “Dos a cero!” at the start, but Mexican supporters yelled “Dos a uno!” as they left.
Mexico went ahead after Michael Bradley and Giovani dos Santos battled for the ball 30 yards out. The ball skipped to Layun, who took a touch, and his right-footed shot deflected off Timmy Chandler and in to Howard’s left for his fourth international goal in 46 appearances,
Wood tied the score after John Brooks forced a turnover. Jozy Altidore turned his defender and passed to Wood, who took two touches as he split defenders. His 8-yard, left-footed shot deflected off a leg of Layun for his eighth goal in 28 international appearances. Wood also scored against Mexico last fall during an extra-time loss in the playoff for a berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup.