A dozen years ago today, the U.S. Men’s National Team faced Mexico in a World Cup Qualifier in Columbus that started the trend of American victories over Mexico at Crew Stadium.
It was dubbed ‘La Guerra Fria’, the Cold War, for the freezing conditions that day and the U.S. posted an important qualifying victory that not only helped the Americans eventually qualify for the 2002 world Cup, it also set the tone for a stretch of dominance by the Americans in their series with their arch rival. It was also the first of what is now three straight U.S. qualifying victories over Mexico in Columbus.
U.S. Soccer is celebrating its centennial in 2013, and honoring 100 Moments in American soccer history. Here is a look at one of those 100, that memorable day in 2001:
That ball from Mathis to Wolfe was sublime. That team had such strong personalities and heart: Mathis, McBride, Stewart, Moore … The USMNT could use a bit of that nowadays.
I think we have plenty of heart and strong personalities. See: MB90, Deuce, JJ, and Howard.
What we need is quality service from the midfield.
Come on now. That team had so much more heart, skill and speed than the current lineup. I believe Ernie Stewart was the only dual citizenship player.
What does one statement have to do with the other, dual citizens don’t have heart?
For many of them the US is just a ticket to play in a world cup.
So many people on this blog speak as if playing for a country doesn’t mean anything and all a player wants is to be in a WC. If someone truly felt german they wouldn’t consider playing for any other country no matter what. That argument is old and quite honestly pointless
+1
and…
Didn’t the fathers service entitle them to represent the USA?
Relax, Mr PC. I think a lot of people on this blog are more concerned with the development of young players in this country and use that as a metric of success. When our MNT ends up bringing along dual-citizens, I think it is the fear that we are underdeveloped as a footballing country more than some lack of respect or uber-nationalist viewpoint.
Heart may be the wrong term, perhaps chip on their shoulder is a better term. Aside from Deuce and MB, how many guys do we have that genuinely play with a chip on their shoulder and the sense of something to prove?
That is one of my favorite memories watching US Soccer. I took the night off sick from work and watched that game alone from the comfort of my couch. At the time I was living in an apartment and I think I upset my neighbors shouting when the second goal was scored.
I also remember thinking at the time when McBride went out why wasn’t our youngster Donovan going in(he was on the bench or am I mistaken)….Arena obviously made the right decision.
I remember that game. They said the Mexico team didn’t even come out of the locker room to warm up! I remember Josh Wolfe’s goal, but had forgotten that was the game that Brian McBride took that knock to the eye. Hope we put the same duce a cero on Mexico again.
We played 3 v 3 with some of the Mexicans in the parking lot. Then in the stadium the flags were flying for about ten minutes then most of the Mexican flags were used as blankets. Brian McBride was so courageous and the rest of the team so committed.
I watched that game in a basement apartment in Hoboken, NJ with a buddy. Clint Mathis remains one of my favorite players to this day, based on plays like that ball for Wolfe. What could have been if he remained healthy and paid more attention to his fitness, what a phenomenal talent he was.
That really was a great team. Still lots of talent on the 2013 iteration of the team, but they do seem to be missing something that the 2002 team had. I don’t know if it’s heart, but there is something missing…
Mathis ball was great, but his best moment ever was goal against So. Korea in WC2002
“That’s why he’s here!”
…..Bruce Arena at the helm, that is what is missing!
Outstanding!
I have nearly never been colder… or happier than I was that night in C-bus. The first truly pro-USA crowd. Fantastic.
Man. We sometimes forget these days how talented Cletus was. The guy could play soccer. He could change a game in an instant. And he wasn’t scared of anybody or anything.
My girlfriend (now wife) were at that game….I always say her ability to handle the conditions (standing the ENTIRE game) is part of the reason I married her!
haha that is so sweet
+1
Truly one of the greatest all time wins for the USMNT of all time. I remember sitting down after an indoor match to watch this one.After Mcbride’s eye swelled shut, I thought we were done. After Reyna got hurt, I lost all hope, but somehow they pulled it off. Simply sublime! I have to agree with a post from a couple of weeks ago-building a national stadium in Alaska does not seem like a bad idea at all!
They worship the USA like Satan.
That old USA was special. World Cup 2002 was like a dream. I’m not kidding, we could have gone all the way.
Those jerseys are awful.
By far the best game of Josh Wolf’s career.
Josh Wolff needed a bigger jersey… I mean look at that thing, it’s practically bursting at the seams!
;-D
Probably had two other shirts on under the jersey to keep warm.
WOW great times, I remember just yelling my guts out on this win. Great game. We showed alot of heart and character!! WC 2002 was by far the best win over MEX ever. It was a dream, we won In a World Cup, elimination match, and in a neutral place against the arch rival. There were no excuses and no one can take that away ever!!!!!!!!!