Sabah lifts Mexico over United States 2-1

August 13, 2009

MEXICO CITY – Miguel Sabah scored in the 82nd minute and Mexico rallied to beat the United States 2-1 on Wednesday, reviving its World Cup hopes and keeping intact its record of never having lost at home to its northern rival.

The match came only 2½ weeks after Mexico defeated the United States 5-0 in New York to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup. However, both teams were significantly different, with only two members of the U.S. team from the July 26 match taking the field for the United States on Wednesday.

Mexico improved to nine points and in the middle of the pack in the six-team “hexagonal” standings while the United States remained in second place with 10 points. Three teams automatically qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa with the fourth-placed team facing off against a South American side for another berth.

Sabah, who replaced Guillermo Franco late in the second half, finished an attack from Efrain Juarez down the right side. Juarez burst in from the midfield past Landon Donovan to the byline, where Jay DeMerit stepped out and knocked the ball away. But the rebound fell to Sabah’s feet just outside the six, and he easily converted.

The victory was Mexico’s 23rd in 24 matches at home against the United States.

Charlie Davies scored in the ninth minute and gave the United States hope that it would finally end its frustration in Mexico.

Mexico started quickly but a quick attack from the midfield put the United States ahead. Landon Donovan settled a ball from the left, turned and sent a low ball behind the Mexican back line. Davies ran in from the left, outpacing Juarez and finishing with a bending right-footed shot around Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa.

He was only the fourth American to score a goal against Mexico in Mexico.

Mexico began to take control of possession and, with the United States seemingly content to play defensively, started to play a one-half game.

It finally capitalized when Cuauhtemoc Blanco worked his way just outside the top of the area and sent a simple square ball across to Israel Castro.

Castro took one touch and launched a 28-meter strike that eluded U.S. keeper Tim Howard and clipped the underside of the crossbar. It was his first goal in 20 matches for Mexico.

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