Sports: History Made - US defeats Mexico 1-0

Quick everybody, Man-hug!

I realize that I am a day late and a dollar short on reporting the events that took place August 15th, 2012. Yes, I also realize this was just an International Friendly with no FIFA, Confederate, or World Cup implications. And finally, I am also aware that Mexico had just won the gold medal for men's soccer and sat a lot of their starters. However, it was not as if the USA was using all of their best players in this game either, with team leaders like Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra, and Jozy Altidore not participating in the friendly. That all being said, this victory was still a historic moment for the US soccer team and probably the best I can recall in recent memory.

For those of you that do not care, or are simply unaware of our team's record when playing in Mexico, please allow me to sum it up. We have been going to Mexico for 75 years to play them in soccer, and do you know what our record was in Mexico before August 15th, 2012? One draw, twenty-three losses, and zero wins. That's right, 0-23-1, we had never beaten them on their home turf until last week. To me, this is a sign that America is finally becoming relevant in the world of soccer(or football, whatever). We've always had a rivalry with Mexico dating back to 1934, mainly due to the fact that our countries are so close to one another. But since the mid 90s, the matches have begun to get more competitive. America is not a team to be taken lightly anymore, and they've been proving it over these past ten years.

Someone tell this guy to get off my back, I can't hear a damn thing!

Now, the game itself was...fine. I'd like to say that our boys really took it to the Mexican team, but it was quite the opposite. It seemed like team Mexico controlled the possession and were on the USA's side of the pitch most of the game. However, the Americans new defensive experiment seemed to pay off, with four defenders deep, anchored by Geoff Cameron, who at one point saved a goal with a beautiful play. While he was marking his man and running towards his own net, he somehow managed to get a head on the cross ment for a wide open Mexican striker, and blast it away from his net. Aside from the stellar defense the Americans put up, there was not much to be excited about in terms of offense. The turning point of the game came around the 78 minute mark I believe, when American coach Jürgen Klinsmann decided to put Brek Shea into the game. As to why he decided to put the struggling midfielder into the game while we were deadlocked at 0-0 with roughly 10 minutes left to play, I do not know. But, it was unquestionably the right call, because a few minutes after checking in Mr. Shea did this:

Brek Shea pictured at the bottom of the screen, not pictured is his enormous dong.

As you can see from the video, what he brought to the game was his energy. A quick burst of speed up the left side, followed by a light touch guiding the ball around the dumbfounded defender, and topped it off with a soft pass to an semi-open Terrence Boyd. The ball was then quickly back heeled by Boyd and was sent spinning toward the goal, only to be finished off by Michael Orozco Fiscal. Not much later, Shea had another run down the same side of the pitch and put up a perfect cross to an open teammate(who's name escapes me) that should have made it 2-0, however the cross was not tucked home.

It was the end of the game and US men's soccer was on the verge of history, and that is when Mexico decided to throw everything they had at them, kitchen sink included. If not for the efforts of Tim Howard, well we would still be looking for our first win on Mexican soil. Rather than describe the saves Howard had to make in the last ten minutes of the game, it's easier to show you.

Soccer balls? Shit, I could stop tennis balls out this bitch.

It helped greatly that the Mexican striker Chicharito appeared to be completely snake bitten the entire match. He had countless opportunities, but it just came down to him being a hair offsides, a split second too late, or just plain bad luck.

I am in no way taking anything away from the Americans, they played a hard game and earned the win. But while I watched the game, I could not help to think that Mexico had outclassed them on the pitch. This was a perfect storm for team USA, a stalwart defense that the Mexicans could not penetrate, a goalie zoned in and making incredible saves, a spark plug bench player coming in and playing out of his mind (if only for ten minutes), and well, a world class striker having a less than world class game. But hey, a win is a win and we will take them anyway we can get them.

This was just a warm up, the real game will come in 2014's World Cup Qualifiers. For the future, let's hope the rivalry builds and the time until the qualifiers gives America enough time to get their game up to par with the gold medalist Mexicans. But for now, let's just enjoy the historic victory and be glad we can head into the World Cup Qualifier's without that damn 75 year monkey on our back.