RICHARD
02-12-2004, 12:09 PM
but I did not think the (girl) could be so cruel.....
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Stifling defense leads Mexico to 4-0 win; bid to Athens
By Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — The Star-Spangled Banner could barely be heard above all the jeers from the vociferous crowd of 60,000 at Estadio Jalisco. Nor will the national anthem be heard during the Athens Olympics this August for the U.S. under-23 men's soccer team.
The United States failed to qualify for the Athens Olympics with its 4-0 loss to Mexico.
Mexico eliminated the USA on Tuesday from the men's competition by winning 4-0, making it the first time the U.S. men have missed qualifying since 1976.
Men's soccer became the second prominent U.S. team eliminated from Athens, following the U.S. baseball team's elimination in November — also by Mexico.
"We're very disappointed," said U.S. coach Glenn Myernick. "The dreams of our team of going to the Olympics are now something in the past."
Because the rivalry is so bitter and because of fan unruliness in past games, city officials doubled the number of police at the game to prevent violence. Eight members of the police force dressed in riot gear guarded the USA behind the team bench when the players entered the field. Obscene signs and chants filled the stadium and, in the 25th minute, the first taunting chants of "Osama! Osama!" in reference to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden began.
Less than a minute later Mexico scored its first goal, a Rafael Marquez Lugo header from about 6 yards out. In the 28th minute Mexico struck again when Diego Martinez bent the ball into the left corner of the goal.
The USA's defense, which had been shaky all tournament, once again faltered in the 55th minute when Marquez Lugo collected a rebound with his back to the goal, turned and fired a 20-yard shot inside the post past goalkeeper D.J. Countess.
"In all areas of the game, they outplayed us. An obvious weakness (for us) throughout the tournament was conceding goals," said Myernick, whose team had advanced to the semis despite giving up six total goals in first-round wins against Panama and Honduras.
With the victory, Mexico avenged the loss to the USA that eliminated it from the 2002 World Cup. Mexico and Costa Rica, which defeated Honduras 2-0 in the other Olympic qualifying semifinal, won the North/Central American and Caribbean region's bids to the Athens Games. Australia, Argentina, Paraguay and host Greece also have qualified.
The loss ended a U.S. hot streak: Fourth place in the 2000 Olympics and the quarterfinals in the 2002 World Cup were the team's all-time best finishes.
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Osama plays for the Team USA??????
Leave it to people in my dad's hometown to get the facts wrong....:rolleyes:
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Stifling defense leads Mexico to 4-0 win; bid to Athens
By Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — The Star-Spangled Banner could barely be heard above all the jeers from the vociferous crowd of 60,000 at Estadio Jalisco. Nor will the national anthem be heard during the Athens Olympics this August for the U.S. under-23 men's soccer team.
The United States failed to qualify for the Athens Olympics with its 4-0 loss to Mexico.
Mexico eliminated the USA on Tuesday from the men's competition by winning 4-0, making it the first time the U.S. men have missed qualifying since 1976.
Men's soccer became the second prominent U.S. team eliminated from Athens, following the U.S. baseball team's elimination in November — also by Mexico.
"We're very disappointed," said U.S. coach Glenn Myernick. "The dreams of our team of going to the Olympics are now something in the past."
Because the rivalry is so bitter and because of fan unruliness in past games, city officials doubled the number of police at the game to prevent violence. Eight members of the police force dressed in riot gear guarded the USA behind the team bench when the players entered the field. Obscene signs and chants filled the stadium and, in the 25th minute, the first taunting chants of "Osama! Osama!" in reference to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden began.
Less than a minute later Mexico scored its first goal, a Rafael Marquez Lugo header from about 6 yards out. In the 28th minute Mexico struck again when Diego Martinez bent the ball into the left corner of the goal.
The USA's defense, which had been shaky all tournament, once again faltered in the 55th minute when Marquez Lugo collected a rebound with his back to the goal, turned and fired a 20-yard shot inside the post past goalkeeper D.J. Countess.
"In all areas of the game, they outplayed us. An obvious weakness (for us) throughout the tournament was conceding goals," said Myernick, whose team had advanced to the semis despite giving up six total goals in first-round wins against Panama and Honduras.
With the victory, Mexico avenged the loss to the USA that eliminated it from the 2002 World Cup. Mexico and Costa Rica, which defeated Honduras 2-0 in the other Olympic qualifying semifinal, won the North/Central American and Caribbean region's bids to the Athens Games. Australia, Argentina, Paraguay and host Greece also have qualified.
The loss ended a U.S. hot streak: Fourth place in the 2000 Olympics and the quarterfinals in the 2002 World Cup were the team's all-time best finishes.
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Osama plays for the Team USA??????
Leave it to people in my dad's hometown to get the facts wrong....:rolleyes: