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Mathis Scores Again as U.S. Takes Down Mexico, 1-0

DENVER (Wednesday, April 3, 2002) — An impressive second-half performance from the U.S. Men’s National Team this evening saw the U.S. take a well-earned 1-0 victory over arch-rival Mexico in front of 48,476 fans in the cool spring altitude of Denver’s Invesco Field. The victory, played in front of the largest crowd of the year for the U.S., improved the U.S. record to 7-2-1 through 10 games in 2002.

The lone U.S. goal came in the 66th minute when forward Clint Mathis finished a ball into an empty net from six yards out after Mexican defender Manual Vidrio and goalkeeper Oscar Perez collided as they tried to corral a looping pass out of the midfield from U.S. defender Carlos Llamosa. For Mathis, the goal marked the seventh consecutive start in which he has scored at least one point for the U.S.

“Carlos just dumped the ball in and I didn’t think anything was going to come out of it,” said Georgia-boy Clint Mathis, “but I went for it anyway and luckily those guys collided. The ball came to me and I definitely made it a little dramatic by hitting it off the crossbar, but a goal is a goal and we’ll take ‘em how they come.”

The USA has now won four straight home matches against Mexico, all by shutout, outscoring their southern neighbors 8-0 in those matches. Bruce Arena’s squad is also 7-0-1 at home in 2002 and is in the midst of a 712-minute shutout streak on home soil (a streak that includes seven straight shutouts at home).

“We are obviously very happy with the win today,” said U.S. head coach Bruce Arena. “Anytime we can beat a quality team like Mexico we have to be happy. I thought in the first half, the Mexican team did a great job pressuring us and we were fortunate to go into halftime even. We played extremely well in the second half and deserved to win the game.”

After a sluggish first-half for both sides, the U.S. made two changes after the break, altering their formation to a 3-5-2 with the loss of left back Greg Vanney (who played the first half despite a strained back). With the addition of Josh Wolff and Carlos Llamosa to start the second half, the U.S. attack began to pressure Oscar Perez’s goal.

Just seconds into the half, Perez bobbled a well-placed cross from Wolff that bounced awkwardly in the penalty area in front of Donovan with the net open, but Vidrio was able to clear the ball. A few minutes later, Wolff freed himself for a shot on goal from 20 yards that was struck directly at Perez, who made the save.

In the 64th minute, a crafty free kick from Clint Mathis was slid behind the Mexican defensive wall in the penalty area to a streaking Jones, who turned and targeted a left-footed shot off the crossbar. The sustained U.S. pressure would finally pay off with Mathis’ goal in the 66th minute.

“I am extremely proud of our team,” added Arena. “It has been a tough four months of preparation for the World Cup. In all honesty, some of our players were simply exhausted today. This is a day where the soccer wasn’t great, and you had to have a big heart to win.”

In addition to winning four of their last five encounters with Mexico, the U.S. are now 7-6-6 against Mexico in 19 games since the start of the 1990s.

Tony Meola picked up his 98th cap for the U.S. in earning his 32nd shutout, extending his U.S. records in both goalkeeping categories. The victory also moved the 33-year-old veteran’s record against Mexico to 4-1-1 in seven total appearances against the Tri-Colores.

The match was the first full international for the U.S. men in Denver in almost 10 years, going all the way back to a 1-0 loss to Scotland on May 15, 1992. More recently, though, the U.S. played at the original Mile High Stadium on July 13, 1999, defeating English club-team Derby County 2-1.

2002 U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT

Participants: United States Men's National Team vs. Mexico

Competition: International Friendly

Venue: Invesco Field at Mile High (Denver, Colo.)

Date: April 3, 2002 – 8 p.m. MT kick-off

Attendance: 48,476

Weather: 42 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary: 1 - 2 - F

USA 0 - 1 - 1

Mexico 0 - 0 - 0

USA – Clint Mathis (Carlos Llamosa), 66.

Lineups:

USA (4-5-1): 1-Tony Meola; 5-Frankie Hejduk; 25-Pablo Mastroeni, 23-Eddie Pope, 3-Greg Vanney (2-Carlos Llamosa, 46); 8-Richard Mulrooney; 13-Cobi Jones (capt.) (10-Brian Maisonneuve, 69), 11-Clint Mathis, 21-Landon Donovan (17-Brian West, 77), 7-DaMarcus Beasley; 9-Ante Razov (15-Josh Wolff, 46).

Subs not used: 18-Tim Howard, 4-Carlos Bocanegra, 20-Brian McBride.

MEX (3-5-2): 12-Oscar Perez; 5-Manuel Vidrio, 20-Melvin Brown, 3-Heriberto Morales; 22-Alberto Rodriguez (15-Javier Saavedra, 46), 14-German Villa (13-Sigifredo Mercado, 57), 7-Braulio Luna, 16-Jesus Mendoza (10-Adolfo Bautista, 46), 19-Gabriel Caballero (18-Johan Rodriguez, 57);11-Daniel Osorno (8-Alberto Garcia Aspe, 68), 9-Carlos Ochoa.

Subs not used: 1-Jorge Campos.

Statistical Summary: USA - MEX

Shots 6 - 9

Saves 2 - 2

Corner Kicks 2 - 5

Fouls 19 - 21

Offside 4 - 7

Misconduct Summary:

USA – Eddie Pope (caution), 17.

MEX – Melvin Brown (caution), 46+.

USA – Landon Donovan (caution), 68.

MEX – Braulio Luna (caution), 77.

MEX – Alberto Garcia Aspe (ejection), 90.

USA – Frankie Hejduk (ejection), 90.

Referee: Clive Wright (Jamaica)

1st Asst.: Ricardo Morgan (Jamaica)

2nd Asst.: David Miekle (Jamaica)

Fourth Official: Ali Saheli (USA)

Chevrolet Man of the Match: Clint Mathis

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER GAME SUMMARY

MARCH 23, 2002 - METROSTARS 3, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 1

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - Offseason acquisition Diego Serna registered two assists, while Clint Mathis and Rodrigo Faria each scored once, as the MetroStars defeated the New England Revolution 3-1 at Giants Stadium on Saturday night. The match was the season opener for both teams during Major League Soccer's seventh campaign.

Serna was one of 10 players to make his debut with a new club in tonight's match, after playing last season for the Miami Fusion. He faced a Revolution squad comprised of former Fusion teammates Carlos Llamosa, Jim Rooney and Alex Pineda Chacon.

The first quality chance of the game came from Faria, who penetrated the left side of New England's penalty area in the 22nd minute. Faria's short cross found streaking teammate Petter Villegas, but the midfielder's shot sizzled wide left.

Faria nearly struck again in the 33rd minute when an errant clearing header by Revolution midfielder Jay Heaps floated high to him in the center of the penalty area. With time to balance himself as the ball came down, Faria unleashed a spectacular side volley that was knocked wide right by Revolution goalkeeper Juergen Sommer.

The Revolution quickly attempted to counter as reigning MLS Budweiser Scoring Champion Pineda Chacon slightly tested MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard with a long shot seconds later. Still on the prowl two minutes later, Pineda Chacon sent a glancing header wide by inches.

Pineda Chacon wasted little time moving back into the attack as the second half begun. Taking a feed from teammate Andy Williams into the penalty area, the Revolution's Honduran legend danced past MetroStars defender Steve Jolley and rolled his first goal of the season past a sprawling Howard in the 50th minute.

\Faria quickly answered however, as Serna split the Revolution defense with a pass up the middle of the field. In a foot race with New England defender Leo Cullen, Faria inched past his pursuer to claim the ball and poked it past the charging Sommer to tie the match at 1-1.

Both teams traded quality chances after the match reached the hour mark as a Daniel Hernandez freekick struck the crossbar in the 63rd minute and a Mamadou Diallo header forced a Howard save in the 66th minute.

Still pushing for the equalizer, the MetroStars surged ahead 2-1 following a Revolution own goal in the 72nd minute. After slicing through the Revolution defense from midfield, Serna reached the top of the penalty area before sliding a short pass to Faria on his right side. Faria then sent a first time crossing attempt though the box only to see Llamosa's lunging header deflect past the helpless Sommer into the net.

Now sensing the Revolution's vulnerability, the MetroStars seized their final goal of the evening when Mathis nodded home a cross from Serna in the 77th minute.

The victory marked the MetroStars second straight season opening win against the Revolution at Giants Stadium. Octavio Zambrano's squad secured a 2-1 win versus New England in last season's campaign opener on April 7, 2001.

On Wednesday, March 27, the MetroStars (1-0-0, 3pts) will return to action at Giants Stadium as the host the Columbus Crew at 7:00 p.m. (ET). The match will be followed by an international exhibition between the national teams of Ecuador and Bulgaria. New England (0-1-0, 0pts) remains idle this coming week, next traveling to meet the defending MLS Cup Champion San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday April 6 at 3:00 p.m. (ET).

MARCH 23--METROSTARS 3, N.E. REVOLUTION 1

1 2 F

N.E. REVOLUTION 0 1 1

METROSTARS 0 3 3

Scoring Summary:

NE --Pineda Chacon (Williams, Ralston) 50

MET--Faria (Serna, Hernandez) 53

MET--own goal (Llamosa) 72

MET--Mathis (Serna, Villegas P.) 77

N.E. REVOLUTION--Juergen Sommer, Leo Cullen, Carlos Llamosa, Rusty Pierce, Jay Heaps, Joe Franchino, Jim Rooney, Steve Ralston, Andy Williams, Mamadou Diallo, Alex Pineda Chacon (Taylor Twellman 67)

TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Diallo 8); SHOTS ON GOAL: 0; FOULS: 9 (Rooney 3); OFFSIDE: 3; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: Sommer 5; CAUTIONS: Heaps 17, Ralston 46+, Williams 83; EJECTIONS: none

METROSTARS--Tim Howard, Steve Jolley, Mike Petke, Sam Forko, Daniel Hernandez, Ross Paule, Clint Mathis, Brian Kamler, Petter Villegas, Rodrigo Faria (Winston Griffiths 91+), Diego Serna

TOTAL SHOTS: 19 (Faria 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Faria 3, Mathis 3); FOULS: 24 (Hernandez 5); OFFSIDE: 7; CORNER KICKS: 9; SAVES: Howard 7; CAUTIONS: Forko 27, Jolley 36; EJECTIONS: none

Referee: Michael Kennedy; Assistant Referees: Greg Barkey, Richard Eddy

Attendance: 13,234; Weather: Clear, 45f/7c,W18mWG25,24%h, Clear


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