Hello and welcome to this flashback live blog for the USA’s 2-0 win over Mexico in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium for this FIFA World Cup Round of 16 tie between Mexico and the USA. I’m Freddie Humphry-Wakefield and I’ll be taking you through this first knockout-round tie here in South Korea.
Mexico came into this game after going undefeated in Group G and being group winners after beating both Croatia and Ecuador and drawing to Italy. They only scored four goals in their four games but conceded just two.
The USA finished second in Group D after beating Portugal but failed to beat South Korea and Poland conceding seven goals and scoring six.
Embed from Getty ImagesMIN 1: The whistle blows, and we’re underway here in Jeonju to decide who will play Germany in the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup
MIN 3: The first corner of the game goes to Mexico. They’ve been all over the USA so far and almost conceded the opener. Salvador Carmona delivers a hopeful cross which Jared Borgetti hits just wide for a goal kick.
AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY THE USA TAKE AN EARLY LEAD! The States enter the Mexico half for the first time in this game as Claudio Reyna runs down the right wing. He cuts the ball back and it deflects to McBride who slots past Oscar Perez who was completely stranded.
MIN 13 – The States are now happily sitting back and inviting pressure from Mexico, but they are lucky to go unpunished as Ramon Morales picks the ball up on the left, cuts into the box, and fires a low shot just wide of Brad Friedel’s goal.
MIN 28 – McBride almost gets on the end of a long ball from Eddie Lewis in Mexico’s half but Manuel Vidrio does well to prevent the attack.
MIN 35 – INCREDIBLE SAVE FROM FRIEDEL! He weakly punches away straight to the feet of Borgetti, who finds himself free in the box. The Blackburn goalkeeper makes a remarkable save to atone for his error, by tipping away Borgetti’s effort.
Embed from Getty ImagesMIN 42 – Borgetti almost gets on the end of Salvador Carmonna’s cross, but Friedel is there again to punch clear.
The USA lead here at the interval in Jeonju. Their goal came against the run of play, but since they took an early lead Mexico have struggled to match the intensity they showed in the first 10 minutes. Now it’s time for the halftime show. Can Mexico turn it around? Or will the USA hold on and be the side to play Germany in the quarterfinal? We’re 45 minutes away from finding out.
MIN 46 – We’re back underway here at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium. Mexico have made a change at the interval, Sigifredo Mercado coming on for Vidrio.
MIN 48 – McBride pushes Braulio Luna over on the edge of the box resulting in a freekick. Cuauhtemoc Blanco blasts his effort hopelessly at the US wall.
MIN 54 – HUGE HANDBALL SHOUT FROM MEXICO! Gregg Berhalter is a very lucky man. He clearly punches the ball in the US penalty area and somehow escapes giving away a penalty.
Embed from Getty ImagesMIN 56 – Huge chance missed by Mexico. It should be 1-1 as Borgetti misses a great cross from Gerardo Torrado by a whisker.
MIN 59 – The USA make their first change as Earnie Stewart comes on for Josh Wolff.
THE USA DOUBLE THEIR LEAD HERE IN JEONJU AND IT’S DONOVAN WHO GETS IT! Eddie Lewis plays a fantastic cross from the left, finding Donovan alone in the box. He heads the ball past Perez and gets the States second. Is that game over?
MIN 71 – What is Perez doing? He miskicks a back pass and gives away a corner. The resulting corner finds Stewart at the back post whose acrobatic effort hits the post and goes behind for a goal kick. The Mexican keeper must be breathing sighs of relief.
MIN 78 – Second change now for the US as McBride makes way for Cobi Jones. Can they hold on for the last 10 minutes?
MIN 84 – The US have completely taken the sting out of this game and are in complete control. Donovan is fouled by Carmona and from the resulting free-kick, they win a corner.
Embed from Getty ImagesMIN 88 – MEXICO ARE DOWN TO TEN! WHAT WAS RAFAEL MARQUEZ THINKING? He challenges Jones for a header but he follows through and headbutts the substitute and the referee reaches for his top pocket and gives him a straight red. Surely the USA are going to be in the last eight now?
MIN 90 – Five minutes of added time. All the US have to do is run down the clock.
MIN 90 + 2 – USA make a late change as Pablo Mastroeni makes way for Carlos Llamosa.
MIN 90 + 4 – It should be 3-0 to the US. Jones delivers a cross to Donovan who’s free in the box with only Perez to beat, but his effort is well wide.
AND THERE’S THE FINAL WHISTLE! THE USA ARE THROUGH TO THE LAST EIGHT OF THE WORLD CUP! They put in a fantastic attacking display here in Jeonju, and thanks to goals from McBride and Donovan and also a late red card for the Mexico captain Marquez, Germany awaits them in the next round. There’s going to be plenty of towel-flicking in their locker room tonight, and they’re well-deserved winners.
Thank you for tuning in to this flashback live blog. How far do you think the USA will go in this year’s installment of the FIFA World Cup? Let me know in our comments section below or interact with us on Twitter @OverTime_Online.
I hope you enjoyed and I’ll see you next time!
