Dos a cero’, a Gio Dos Santos banger and the top five most important USMNT-Mexico games of the 21st century

The United States vs. Mexico rivalry has consistently been one of the best rivalries in international football — if not the best. Such is the interconnectedness – geographically and culturally – between the two nations, that every single match seems to matter. Even friendlies, such as Tuesday’s match in Guadalajara, seem seismic.

But there have been some pretty good games when there’s glory on the line, too. While the rivalry has been significant for decades, it kicked off to a new level arguably at the 2002 World Cup, when the USMNT secured a famous victory over El Tri in the knockouts in South Korea. And since then, there have been classics aplenty – with big wins for both sides.

GOAL highlights some of the best of them over the years. From that World Cup win to Mexican triumphs thanks to Gio Dos Santos bangers, here’s a look at some of the most important Mexico-U.S. games of the past 25 years.

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  USA 2-0 Mexico, 2002 World Cup

  ‘Dos a cero.’

  Heading into the World Cup last 16 fixture between the USMNT and Mexico, few would have predicted a U.S. victory. After all, although the U.S. had undoubtedly improved as a nation, this was Mexico, a country that had consistently performed on the biggest stage – a global soccer power. At the time, the beautiful game had barely made a dent in the U.S.’s wider consciousness.

  This fixture changed all of that. It was a hard-nosed and tight match, a proper World Cup knockout clash. The USMNT went up 1-0 early, and Landon Donovan header sealed things in the second half. At the time, the upset felt significant. Mexico, the kings of CONCACAF, could be beaten when it really mattered. These days, almost 25 years on, it serves as something of a reference point, the math where the U.S. showed that they could be a real threat on the global stage – not just a pesky threat who could nick an occasional result.

  Mexico 4-2 USMNT, 2011 Gold Cup final

  Although the Azteca had been a fearsome venue for the USMNT to visit over the years, they had mostly managed well on home soil. And by the time Mexico and the U.S. met in the final of the 2011 Gold Cup, Bob Bradley’s side had only lost one of their last 11 to El Tri at home.

  But in a Rose Bowl packed with 90,000 – mostly Mexico fans – that all changed. The USMNT started well, and established what seemed to be a comfortable 2-0 lead. But Mexico scored twice to level the game by the break, and were entirely dominant in the second half. They eventually ran out 4-2 winners, Giovani Dos Santos scoring a famous chip to seal the result.

  The debacle, with the U.S. giving up a lead in the fashion that it did, would play a significant factor in the decision to part ways with Bradley and move on to a high-profile hire in Jurgen Klinsmann.

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    Mexico 3-2 USA, 2015 CONCACAF Cup

    The exact purpose of the CONCACAF Cup is a bit muddled. The winner of the game qualified for the now-defunct Confederations Cup. Still, any match between the two sides – with anything on the line – felt significant.

    And 2017’s was a classic. Temperatures in the Rose Bowl reached nearly 100 degrees as the two sides needed extra time to settle things. Chicharito put Mexico ahead early, but the USMNT responded through Geoff Cameron. Eventually extra time was needed to settle things. The two sides exchanged goals once again, before Paul Aguilar lashed in a winner in the 118th minute.

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    USA 3-2 Mexico, 2021 Nations League final

    Christian Pulisic. 114th minute. Bang. The Nations League final was a chaotic thing, and probably tyhe high point of the Gregg Berhalter era for the USMNT. It was, eventually, an immense U.S. victory. But it was by no means a comfortable result. Mexico scored inside the first minute, before Gio Reyna equalised in the 27th. El Tri went ahead again, only for Weston McKennie to level things 10 minutes from time.

    And then, up stepped Pulisic to smash a spot-kick home after 114 minutes. Late heroics were still required, Ethan Horvath saving a penalty with seconds remaining to win the Nations League. Exhausting, but memorable.

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    USA 2-1 Mexico, 2007 Gold Cup final

    Context for this one was important. The USMNT had coasted through the group stage at the 2007 Gold Cup, and despite brief scares from Panama and Canada, came into the final in a rich vein of form. The opposite was the case for Mexico. El Tri finished second in their group, needed extra time to beat Costa Rica, and edged Guadeloupe in the semi-finals.

    At the time, it was admittedly rare for the USMNT to be favored over Mexico. But at Soldier Field, with Mexico struggling, the stage seemed to be set for a resounding victory. Things got off to a poor start, and the USMNT trailed 1-0 at the break. However, a second half turnaround saw the U.S. win their second straight Gold Cup – their sole trophy under Bob Bradley.