August 15, 2012: U.S. Soccer's 1st Win at the Azteca

Left to right: Graham Zusi, Terrence Boyd, Michael Orozco.

The result was a lot better than the uniform.

August 15, 2012: For the 1st time, the U.S. national soccer team defeats Mexico on Mexican soil.

Starting on September 12, 1937, with a 7-2 loss at Parque Asturias in Mexico City, they were 0-19 before getting so much as a draw, until November 2, 1997, a 0-0 draw in a 1998 World Cup Qualifier. The U.S. was 0-23-1, including 0-10 at Mexico's national stadium, the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Part of this was due to Mexico's better organization. But the elements were also a factor: the country's largest cities are in areas that are both desert and mountain, and the heat and the elevation tend to work in their favor. It is no coincidence that Mexico's 2 best performances in the World Cup have come as hosts, reaching the Quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986.

But it's not as though the U.S.' record against Mexico in other countries was much better. The 1st game between the teams was on May 24, 1934, in a play-in game for the World Cup in Rome, a 4-2 U.S. win. After that, we didn't beat Mexico at all until November 23, 1980, 2-1 at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, in a 1982 World Cup Qualifier. That raised our all-time record against them to 2-21-3.

There were 6 wins, 2 losses and 5 draws in Los Angeles and environs, 3 wins in Columbus, and 2 wins at the Meadowlands. There were wins in San Diego, in Denver, in the Phoenix area, in Chicago, a win and a draw in Washington, and a win and a loss in Dallas. Most famously, there was the "Dos A Cero" win in the 2002 World Cup in Jeonju, South Korea. There was a draw in Foxboro, 2 draws in Houston, a draw in Philadelphia, a loss in a tournament in Uruguay, and a loss in pre-Castro Cuba.

All told, when the U.S. and Mexico took the pitch in front of over 105,000 fans at the Azteca for an exhibition game, or "friendly," on August 15, 2012, Mexico had won 32 games, the U.S. 15, with 12 draws.

And in the 1st half, it appeared that nothing would change. Mexico controlled the flow of play most of the way. The only real chance for the Americans ended when Herculez Gomez was knocked down, and, not surprising given the opponent and the location, was denied the penalty he thought he had earned. Nevertheless, the U.S. defense held its own, and the teams went into the locker room at 0-0.

In the 2nd half, there were nearly a goal from Javier Hernández, known as "Chicharito" (meaning "Little Pea," because his father, also named Javier Hernández, was "Chicharo" or "Pea"), and as "Cheaterito" for the unrepentant diving that made him fit in so well at Manchester United, but he missed a sitter. 

But the defense, led by goalkeeper Tim Howard and centerback Geoff Cameron, held, and it looked like the U.S. might hold on for a hard-earned 0-0 draw, and most American soccer fans would have been okay with that.

U.S. manager Jürgen Klinsmann, who seemed to specialize in big away wins in friendlies while losing big competitive matches, was not okay with a draw. He made substitutions, and they worked. Shortly after the hour, Kyle Beckerman just cleared the bar. In the 80th minute, forward Brek Shea looked like he was about to shoot, but hit a left-footed cross over to forward Terrence Boyd. Boyd tried to backheel the ball into the net. Centerback Michael Orozco got to it first, and poked it in with his left foot. Shea, Boyd and Orozco were all subs.

Fourteen minutes, and 2 great saves by Howard, later, it was over: U.S. 1, Mexico 0 -- or, in standard soccer terminology, with the home team listed at the left, Mexico 0-1 USA. After 25 tries over 75 years, the Americans -- with men of Mexican descent in their lineup, of course -- had defeated Mexico in Mexico. And not just in Mexico, and not just in Mexico City, but in Estadio Azteca, which had been an unassailable fortress until then.

As of March 24, 2022, the most recent game between the teams (a scoreless draw in a World Cup Qualifier at the Azteca), the count stands at Mexico 36, U.S. 22, 16 draws; on Mexican soil, Mexico 23, U.S. 1, 4 draws; and, at the Azteca, Mexico 9, U.S. 1, 4 draws. But, from August 15, 2012, it's been U.S. 7, Mexico Mexico 4, 4 draws; and in Mexico, all at the Azteca, U.S. 1, Mexico none, and 3 draws.

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August 15, 2012 was a Wednesday. These Major League Baseball games were played that day:

* The New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers, 3-2 at the new Yankee Stadium. Eric Chavez went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, to make a winning pitcher out of Freddy Garcia.

* The New York Mets lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 6-1 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

* The Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox, 5-3 at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

* The Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres, 6-1 at Turner Field (now Center Parc Stadium) in Atlanta.

* The Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 9-2 at Marlins Park (now LoanDepot Park) in Miami.

* The Chicago White Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-5 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

* The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-3 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

* The Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros, 7-2 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

* The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-2 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

* The Kansas City Royals beat the Oakland Athletics, 3-2 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

* The Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-1 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

* The Colorado Rockies beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6 at Coors Field in Denver.

* The Los Angeles Angels beat the Cleveland Indians, 8-4 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

* The Washington Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park (now Oracle Park) in San Francisco.

* And the Seattle Mariners beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 1-0 at Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park) in Seattle. Félix Hernández went the distance for the shutout, allowing 4 hits and no walks, striking out 12.