Arguably the best national team rivalry in all of soccer resumes Wednesday night in Columbus, Ohio.
Unless you have been sleeping since MLS Cup or been hiding in a cave, you already know that the United States will take on Mexico in a key (aren't all of those games key in a short season?) World Cup qualifying match (ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
While three points are at stake in the race to soccer's promised land -- South Africa in 2010 -- so is the pride of both countries and CONCACAF supremacy.
If the USA wins, it will continue solidify its claims to be CONCACAF kings and add to an unbeaten home streak on U.S. soil that stands at 10 games (8-0-2) since a 2-1 loss in San Diego on March 13, 1999.
If the Mexicans prevail, it will restore their pride, at least until the next game, and keep embattled coach Sven-Goran Eriksson in power at least until the next crisis or loss.
A tie? That will give each team a point and confuse things on who's the best team in all of the CONCACAF land until August, most likely.
If you're under 30, you probably have become accustomed to the United States holding its own and then some against its neighbors south of the Rio Grande. But for anyone born prior to 1975, they know that it wasn't always this way.
Back in the day, it wasn't anywhere near a rivalry. Back in the old days, the Mexicans owned the series. It usually went like this: When the U.S. played in Mexico City, the hosts would win and win decisively. When the game was in the U.S. -- many times in Los Angeles, when the home crowd overwhelming cheered for the visitors and not for the old red, white and blue ... who would be fortunate just to register a draw. A victory was unheard of.
Slowly, but surely, things started to change.
During a meaningless 1982 World Cup qualifier in November, 1980 -- the U.S. already had been eliminated -- the USA bested the Mexicans in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 2-1, its first triumph against Mexico since the very first meeting (and qualifier) -- a 4-2 U.S. qualifying triumph in Rome just days prior to the 1934 World Cup.
The U.S. literally started to get its legs after it qualified for Italia '90, after 40 years in the World Cup desert.
First came a 2-2 tie in L.A. in 1991 and a 2-0 victory in the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals. That was followed by a 1-0 win before 91,123 at the Rose Bowl only weeks prior to the 1994 World Cup. The first major turning point came in a 4-0 stomping at RFK Stadium in June 1995 that served as Claudio Reyna's coming out party as an international impact player. A month later in the Copa America quarterfinals, the U.S. overcame their rivals once again after a scoreless draw, prevailing in a shootout behind the heroics of Brad Friedel.
When MLS was born in 1996, the new league gave fuel to the USA's fire to turn a one-sided series into a true, honest-to-goodness rivalry because players had a league in which to play and improve and prep for international matches.
In November 1997, despite playing a man down for most of the match (Jeff Agoos was red-carded), the U.S. managed a point in its chamber of horrors, Estadio Azteca, securing a valuable and precious qualifying point.
While the U.S. continued to struggle in the rarefied air and smog of Mexico City (that point in 1997 is still the only one ever taken in Mexico by the USA), they made sure the Mexicans paid on their own soil, especially when it counts.
Take, for instance, a pair of World Cup qualifiers held in the capital of Ohio.
The first one was a classic. A half hour into a match that was played in 29-degree weather, the U.S. found itself without two key players who were forced from the game due to injuries -- Brian McBride and Reyna. In their place came Josh Wolff, who scored one goal, and Clint Mathis, who set up another (Earnie Stewart also found the back of the net), it one of the high points of U.S. soccer history.
The second confrontation might not have had the drama of 2001, but the result was just fine for the hosts -- another 2-0 victory, this time on a warm, summer September night in 2005. Steve Ralston, better known for his crossing than scoring, and the ever-elusive DaMarcus Beasley did the dirty work up front with goals, while Oguchi Onyewu, did his dirty work on Mexican Jared Borguetti in the back, keeping the Mexican striker literally on his back when push always came to shove.
And it wasn't just the results, but the aftershocks that were left by U.S. performances.
Mexican coach Manuel Lapuente was given the heave-ho after losing to the U.S., 2-0, in the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Miguel Mejia Baron was fired shortly after the '95 match. Coach Bora Milutinovic was shown the door after the Azteca fiasco in '97 (will Eriksson suffer a similar fate if his side loses?).
The Mexican media traditionally comes down hard on the team and whichever poor soul has to endure the pressure of coaching a team that has lost to someone, sooner or later. It has been difficult for Mexicans -- players and citizens -- to come to grips with the fact that the U.S. and the rest of CONCACAF has caught up or is catching up to them. The days of rolling over every foe is over.
The ultimate test for CONCACAF superiority came on neutral turf in Jeonju, South Korea in the 2002 World Cup on June 17 when the U.S. produced a stunning 2-0 result in the second round. Hampered by injuries, suspensions and possible yellow-card bans in the next match, the USA played their collective hearts out as Friedel again did his magic in the back and Landon Donovan and McBride supplied the offensive fireworks.
End of discussion of which team was the best in CONCACAF.
Since then, both sides essentially have held serve on their home court, including qualifiers.
Incidentally, the USA's score of choice for the really, really big confrontations that truly mean something has been 2-0.
Knowing U.S. coach Bob Bradley, he could care less about what the score would be on Wednesday night. Two-zip once again would be nice for him, although 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, etc. etc. would just as suffice.
Regardless which side prevails at Columbus Crew Stadium on Wednesday night, there will be much talk and hype about the rematch in Mexico City on Aug. 11. The full U.S. team will be seeking its first win in Mexico, while the Mexicans will try for another three points. That confrontation should be a doozy as well.
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