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U.S. and Mexico battle to tough draw
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Seventeen times, the United States had played against Mexico in Mexico City. Seventeen times, the United States had lost.That's why Sunday's scoreless tie in a World Cup qualifier was one of the best results ever for the Americans, struggling to qualify for the 1998 World Cup.
"Thank God we at least won one point," U.S coach Steve Sampson said.
With the win, the United States can move into commanding position for a World Cup berth with a tie next Sunday at Canada and possibly clinch with a win. The Americans play their final game against El Salvador on Nov. 16 at Foxboro, Mass.
"I think anybody would be happy with one point coming to Mexico," U.S. forward Eric Wynalda said. "It's a very difficult place to play."
In 17 previous games against Mexico in Mexico City since 1937, the American had been outscored 69-13.
Mexico (4-0-4), which became the 22nd country to clinch a spot for the 32-nation tournament in France, leads the six-team finals of soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean region with 16 points. Jamaica (3-2-3), which plays at El Salvador next Sunday, is second with 12 points and the United States (2-1-5) is third with 11.
The top three teams will qualify, which means the Americans are in good position to advance to the tournament for the third straight time. El Salvador (2-3-3) is fourth with nine points, followed by Costa Rica (2-4-2) and Canada (1-4-3).
The Americans played the final 58 minutes a man short. Defender Jeff Agoos was ejected for elbowing Pavel Pardo in the neck after Pardo had hit Agoos in the back.
Mexico dominated play but many of its shots were off the mark, giving U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel a relatively calm afternoon.
Thomas Dooley had the best scoring chance in the game, hitting the post in the 33rd minute with Mexico goalkeeper Jorge Campos off his line.
"I think it was a tremendous result for us," Wynalda said, "especially with 10 men."
Mexico coach Bora Milutinovic was whistled by the crowd, which chanted "Bora Out!" as it became unimpressed by Mexico's play. Milutinovic, who coached Mexico to a spot in the 1986 World Cup, was the U.S. coach in the 1994 tournament, when Sampson was his assistant on the American team.
"We did not play as we had hoped," Milutinovic said, adding he was "content" with the tie.
Notes: In Sunday's only other qualifier, the United Arab Emirates may have cost itself a spot in the tournament with a scoreless tie against visiting Uzbekistan. The tie moved Japan (2-1-4), which beat South Korea 2-0 Saturday, into second place in Asia Group B ahead of the UAE(2-2-2). South Korea (5-1-1) has clinched first and a spot in the tournament, and the second-place team plays the Group A runner-up for a spot in the World Cup. Japan would clinch a playoff spot if the UAE fails to beat South Korea on Friday night. If the UAE wins that one, Japan needs a win against Kazakstan the following day.
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan