March 29, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Mexico claims 3-2 victory over USA in CONCACAF Cup soccer game

CONCACAFPaul Aguilar scored late in overtime to give Mexico a 3-2 victory over the U.S. today in the inaugural CONCACAF Cup soccer game at the Rose Bowl before a sold-out crowd announced at 93,723.

A ball that had popped up fell to Aguilar, who put his volley into the far corner of the net in the 118th minute.

Just like after Mexico’s first two goals, the score set off boisterous flag-raising cheering from much of the crowd.

Shortly after the goal, smoke bombs with green and red smoke, the primary colors of the Mexican team, were set off behind the goal Mexico was shooting at.

The U.S. had re-tied the score 10 minutes earlier on a goal by substitute Bobby Wood, who played for the Irvine Strikers club team.

Wood had taken a pass from DeAndre Yedlin and put a shot past Mexican goalkeeper Moises Munoz.

Wood, who plays for the second-division German team FC Union Berlin, was added to the roster at Friday’s deadline, replacing Alejandro Bedoya, who was unable to play because of illness.

Regulation play ended in a 1-1 tie prompting 30 minutes of overtime play, played in two 15-minute halves.

Mexico regained the lead six minutes into overtime when Oribe Peralta scored off a cross by Aguilar.

Mexico opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Javier Hernandez scored off a pass from Peralta.

The U.S. tied the score in the 15th minute when defender Geoff Cameron headed in a free kick by Michael Bradley for his second national team goal.

A scuffle broke out in the 35th minute when Peralta and U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan became tangled. Peralta received a yellow card from Joel Aguilar.

Mexico led 20-13 in shots and 10-5 in shots on goal. Munoz made seven saves, including two in overtime. Guzan made three saves, two in the first half and one in the second.

The victory gives Mexico a berth in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, a tournament played every four years in the year before the World Cup in the host nation of the World Cup.

The eight-team field in the Confederations Cup consists of the champion of each of FIFA’s six regional federations, the reigning World Cup champion and the host nation, which in 2017 will be Russia.

“It’s a dry run for the World Cup,” Bradley, the U.S. captain, said before the game. “You get to spend time in the country a year before, you play in the stadiums, you stay in the hotels, you get a feel for what the weather is like and the way things work.”

The loss ended the U.S.’ six-game unbeaten streak against Mexico. The U.S. had won three times and three games ended in a tie since Mexico overcame an early two-goal deficit to rally for a 4-2 victory in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on June 25, 2011 at the Rose Bowl, the most recent time the U.S. Mexico in the Los Angeles before today.

Organizers announced on Monday that the game was sold out.

“This is one of the biggest soccer games to be played on North American soil since the 1994 World Cup and the fans have certainly responded,” said CONCACAF acting General Secretary Ted Howard.

Fans applied online for the right to purchase tickets via a lottery system. A supplemental ticketing process was held for supporters groups of the U.S. and Mexican teams.

Mexican fans have traditionally outnumbered their U.S. counterparts in games between the teams in Southern California.

“One of our goals for this game was to make the Rose Bowl a representation of both passionate fan bases,” Howard said.

“The interest and demand for an event of this magnitude requires a process that allows for an opportunity for a fair and equitable distribution of tickets.”

The crowd appeared to be pro-Mexican, despite the efforts by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, soccer’s governing body for the region, to find balance.

In April 2013, the split of the region’s berth in the Confederations Cup between two editions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup was announced, assuring both editions of the region’s national team championship in each four-year cycle have the same importance from a competitive perspective.

The U.S. won the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while Mexico won the 2015 edition.

 

in Sports
Related Posts

Loyola Marymount University and LA Rams Announce Longterm Partnership

September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023

Rams to Provide Events and Internships for LMU Students “With hearts ablaze, with spirits high, we declare – whose house?...

Culver City High School’s Ibrahim Golfing Family Featured in New NBC Film

April 5, 2023

April 5, 2023

Ibrahim siblings’ success on the golf course captured in short film feature “Home Course Advantage” Rashid Ibrahim’s journey to the...

Super Bowl Pre-Game Show to Be Broadcast From Santa Monica Pier

February 10, 2022

February 10, 2022

The Santa Monica Pier will be the location for the Super Bowl Pre-Game show broadcast. Learn more in this video...

Culver City Football Head Coach Hits Century Mark

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

Submitted by the Culver City Unified School District Congratulations to Culver City High School football head coach Jahmal Wright on...

Local Hoopers Rejoice As Venice Basketball League Returns

September 6, 2021

September 6, 2021

The Venice Basketball League is officially back on the courts after nearly 2 years of closure. Nick Ansom joins us...

Westside Olympic Swimmer Shares Her Journey To The Games

August 30, 2021

August 30, 2021

Two time Olympian, Westside Local, and Medical Student Andi Murez has returned from the Tokyo games, hear about her journey...

Local Little League All-Star Team Wins More Than Just Championships

August 10, 2021

August 10, 2021

The Venice Baseball Academy’s little league team, the Tide, recently won the SoCal State Championships but it’s more than winning...

Tokyo Bound! Former Centaur Runner Isaiah Jewett Qualifies for U.S. Olympic Team

June 30, 2021

June 30, 2021

Former Culver City High School track star Isaiah Jewett made the U.S. Olympic Team by bettering his USC school record and taking...

Culver City High School Pitcher Notches His Second No-Hitter

April 20, 2021

April 20, 2021

Alonso Reyes records second no-hitter of high school career in 5-0 shutout of Windward By Chad Winthrop A pitcher for...

Culver City Centaurs to Play on Fox Sports West

March 29, 2021

March 29, 2021

Fox Sports West broadcast for Centaurs Friday By Staff Writer Culver City High School football is hitting the airwaves this...

Culver City Officials Threaten to Close Skatepark if Face Coverings Are Not Worn

September 22, 2020

September 22, 2020

Officials post additional notices at skatepark  By Chad Winthrop Culver City health officials are threatening to close the city’s skatepark...

High School Sports Season Pushed Back Until December

July 21, 2020

July 21, 2020

All California high school sports will not begin until mid-December By Sam Catanzaro High school sports in Los Angeles and...

Video: Venice Skatepark Taken Back by Skaters

May 28, 2020

May 28, 2020

Defying officials, Venice Skate Park skaters recently took matters into their own hands after the City of Los Angeles filled...