JEONJU, South Korea, June 17 (UPI) -- Brian McBride scored a goal in the game's first eight minutes and Landon Donavon added a second half score Monday to support the shutout goalkeeping of Brad Friedel and boost the United States into the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Mexico.
The decision marked the first time the United States, which has not been in the tournament's quarterfinals since 1930, had won an elimination game in World Cup history.
The victory sets of a quarterfinals match between Germany and the United States on Friday in Ulsan, South Korea. The Germans, who have given up just one goal in its four tournament games this year, are 3
1. The United States takes a 2-1-1 2002 World Cup record into the game. Germany won a test match 4-2 last March in the latest game between the teams.
Monday's decision also may be the victory that convinces U.S. soccer fans that this U.S. team is for real. The United States demonstrated CONCACAF supremacy and leapt onto the world stage, becoming not an outsider, but a team with a legitimate claim to being one of the best in the world.
It is also a team with a claim to finally get the recognition they have been starved for among U.S. sports fans. President George Bush became the first American head of state to call the soccer team before the game, offering encouragement and wishing the team luck, saying, "The entire country is watching you. God bless you."
U.S. Coach Bruce Arena made a number of changes in the lineup, including slotting Claudio Reyna in at wingback, a position he is naturally suited. It was a smart move. The Untied States played essentially a holding game, making the Mexicans run, and crammed so many people in the area that it was difficult for the Mexicans to get off a clean shot.
The quick-counter offense the American employed was ultimately the key. McBride netted his second goal of the tournament in the eighth minute to get the United States on top early. Reyna made a lovely run down the right flank that McBride reacted to by chasing down the middle. As a result, when Reyna reached the end line and crossed to Josh Wolff, McBride was in perfect position to receive the tap-back and punch it home past a helpless Oscar Perez from about some 9 yards.
Donovan got his second of the meet when he added a goal in the 65th minute off a pass by Eddie Lewis, who put the cross in from the left and Donovan headed the shot home.
The strike came after the U.S. had just weathered and broken a 20-minute stream of Mexican pressure and was just beginning once again to range downfield. It was a killer from which Mexico never recovered.
Despite owning a 2-1 advantage in ball possession, Mexico was unable to get anything by Friedel. Ramon Morales made the first attempt after 15 minutes with a drive just wide of the left post. Cuauhtemoc Blanco had the best opportunity in the 35th minute. He was unmarked in the middle of the area to get a rebound from Friedel, but the shot was denied by the American goalkeeper.
Braulio Luna tested Friedel twice more in the second half. Luna took a free kick wide right and bent a shot which Friedel pushed into his own crossbar and over the net. On another free kick, Luna sailed the attempt over the top.
The game was played with some desperation, as shown by the five yellow cards handed out to each team by referee Vitor Melo Pereira. The referee also sent off Mexico's Rafael Marquez for a head-on-head challenge on Cobi Jones.
