U.S. looks to keep ‘Dos a Cero’ streak alive
Mexico has lost four consecutive Cup qualifiers 2-0 to Americans
Clint Dempsey said he did not miss on purpose.
If he had — or at least said he had — he would have skyrocketed even higher into the stratosphere of United States soccer annals than he already has.
Four years ago in Columbus, Ohio, with the United States moments away from victory over Mexico, it did not make sense for him to miss a last-minute penalty kick on purpose. Games still remained in the final round of World Cup qualifying, and goal differential might have been needed to break a tie.
Then again, the game was in Columbus. The opponent was Mexico. “Dos a Cero” was already a thing.
A 3-0 final score looks more decisive than 2-0, but the Americans already had beaten Mexico 2-0 in three consecutive home World Cup qualifiers.
Familiar foes
This week, United States fans hope for a fifth straight 2-0 triumph, but, a win by any score will be just fine.
The rivalry returns to Columbus, where the USA and Mexico open the Hex at Mapfre Stadium on Friday night. Dempsey (irregular heart beat) will not be there, but there will be plenty of familiar faces on the pitch as the U.S. tries to send a message.
“Having Mexico in the first game of the hexagonal, especially at home, is huge,” coach Jurgen Klinsmann said earlier this week on a Fox Sports Facebook live broadcast. “It’s almost like a 6-pointer.”
The final round of qualifying consists of 10 games against five other CONCACAF nations — Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago. The games will be played over the next 11 months, with the finale kicking off Oct. 10, 2017.
As part of this international break, the U.S. also plays a road match against Costa Rica on Tuesday.
The top three teams in the standings will automatically qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
All ranked in the top 18 in the world, Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States are the favorites to qualify out of CONCACAF.
Ready to rock
The U.S. will be without regular starter and former Dynamo player Geoff Cameron. The defender is dealing with a knee injury he suffered while playing for Premier League side Stoke City.
The roster is otherwise as strong as it could be, especially with forward Jozy Altidore in top form with Toronto FC. Altidore missed summer’s Copa America Centenario with a hamstring injury.
Other key players will be captain and midfielder Michael Bradley, defender John Brooks, goalkeeper Tim Howard, midfielder Jermaine Jones and 18-year-old rising star Christian Pulisic.
The U.S. Soccer Federation gets to choose where it plays its home games during the Hex. With all of the success the Americans have had in Ohio, Klinsmann said it was a “no-brainer” to play the game there.
“When we come to Columbus and have our crowd behind us, it is huge,” Klinsmann said. “It means a lot to us. This Friday, it will rock like maybe never before.”