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Five memorable matches between Mexico and USA

By Ernesto Hernandez

Paul Aguilar of Mexico watches his game winning shot on goal as US goalkeeper Brad Guzan looks on during their 2015 CONCACAF Cup match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on October 10, 2015. The match is a playoff for the 2017 Confederations Cup. The United States lost to Mexico 3-2. AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Paul Aguilar of Mexico watches his game winning shot on goal as US goalkeeper Brad Guzan looks on during their 2015 CONCACAF Cup match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on October 10, 2015. The match is a playoff for the 2017 Confederations Cup. The United States lost to Mexico 3-2. AFP PHOTO / MARK RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images) /
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JEONJU – JUNE 17: Eddie Pope of the USA charges forward during the FIFA World Cup Finals 2002 Second Round match between Mexico and the USA played at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, in Jeonju, South Korea on June 17, 2002. USA won the match 2-0. DIGITAL IMAGE. (Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images)
JEONJU – JUNE 17: Eddie Pope of the USA charges forward during the FIFA World Cup Finals 2002 Second Round match between Mexico and the USA played at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, in Jeonju, South Korea on June 17, 2002. USA won the match 2-0. DIGITAL IMAGE. (Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images) /

5. 2002 World Cup Round of 16

Arguably, the match that really heated up this rivalry took place in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan. Mexico had, and still hasn’t, made it past the round of 16 despite being a mainstay in the World Cup. Back in 2002, facing the US, they felt that this was their best shot to achieve that.

During this time, Mexico were vastly superior to the US when it came to soccer and believed that beating them pose little to no problems. To their chagrin, they were wrong.

The US came out unafraid of their southern neighbors and an early goal by Brian McBride gave the US a confidence that they could beat Mexico in spite of the history. Beat them they did as the Mexican team got more and more physical, clearly frustrated that they could not score against the Americans.

A young Landon Donovan sealed the victory for the US in the 65th minute. Seeing themselves defeated and headed for another early exit from the World Cup, Mexico got even more physical and things came to a head late when Rafael Marquez was sent off after a foul on Cobi Jones. As they, say the rest was history and the US won 2-0.

This is where the famous/infamous, depending on who you support, “Dos a Cero” chant come from. The US enjoyed a semblance of dominance over Mexico when playing in American soil ever since. It showed Mexico that the US was a force to be reckoned with within their region and no longer a pushover.

Psychologically, it was a blow for Mexico because soccer was the one sport where they had a leg up on the Americans. Seeing that go away in the biggest stage of them all has to hurt. Luckily for them, their win in 2016 at Columbus managed to take some of that pain away. But until they meet again in the World Cup, US fans will always have this one as a bragging right.

The latest final between these two teams will be another chapter in their rivalry. It’s a final that both want to win and a loss that neither side will tolerate.

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