What Is ‘Dos a Cero’? A History Of The USA-Mexico Rivalry’s Signature Scoreline

Gold Cup: What Is ‘Dos a Cero’? A History of the USA-Mexico Rivalry’s Signature Scoreline

In the rivalry between the USA and Mexico, one scoreline stands out, bringing joy to one fanbase while annoying the other. Whether during high-stakes World Cup matches or “friendly” games against El Tri, a jubilant shout of “Dos a Cero!” can often be heard among USA supporters whenever the score is displayed on the jumbotron. This phrase, meaning “Two to Zero” in Spanish, has become synonymous with the USA-Mexico men’s soccer rivalry.

The significance of the 2-0 scoreline is especially noteworthy for the U.S., particularly as the historical dominance of Mexico has evolved into a more balanced and competitive rivalry since the turn of the century. www.jili ko.com So, what exactly is Dos A Cero? And why does it remain a recurring theme in conversations about this matchup? Let’s explore the details. spinph club me777 com

A Brief Snapshot of the USA-Mexico Rivalry

The USA-Mexico men’s soccer rivalry has a long history that dates back to 1934, although the first match wasn’t even held in either country. The inaugural game took place in Rome during a World Cup qualifying match, where the U.S. triumphed with a score of 4-2. However, Mexico dominated for the remainder of the century, with the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) not securing another victory until 1980.

In total, there have been 78 matches between the two nations, with Mexico holding the upper hand at 37 wins compared to the U.S.’s 24 victories and 17 draws. Remarkably, Mexico has only lost once on home soil in a friendly match in 2012. Prior to the year 2000, Mexico had a clear edge over the U.S. in men’s soccer.

However, when it comes to matches with high stakes—like World Cup qualifiers, Gold Cup encounters, or the World Cup itself—the U.S. has an edge, winning 16 competitive matches compared to Mexico’s 14, with nine matches ending in a draw.

The modern era of the rivalry has become even more competitive, as players from both teams have risen to stardom at some of the biggest clubs in Europe. The only World Cup match between the two occurred in 2002, when the U.S. defeated Mexico 2-0 in South Korea, advancing to the quarterfinals. This matchup was the third and last time that the rivalry was contested outside of North America.

The growing interest in soccer post-1994 World Cup, alongside the establishment of Major League Soccer in 1996, has significantly contributed to the evolution of the USA-Mexico rivalry. Since 2000, the USMNT boasts 20 wins against Mexico’s 19 (with four draws).

A ‘Cold War’ Solidifies An Infamous Scoreline

A pivotal moment in the rivalry occurred during a friendly match on October 5, 2000, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This match marked the debut of USMNT legend Landon Donovan, who scored the winning goal in a 2-0 victory, setting the stage for future encounters.

Just five months later, the two teams met again, this time under drastically different circumstances. On February 28, 2001, they faced off in a World Cup qualifying match in frigid Ohio, a clash that would be dubbed La Guerra Fria (“The Cold War”). Goals from Josh Wolff and Earnie Stewart resulted in a second consecutive 2-0 triumph over Mexico.

The rivalry reached an iconic moment on June 17, 2002, during the World Cup knockout stage. The U.S. prevailed again with a 2-0 scoreline, securing a spot in the quarterfinals. This was the third consecutive time the USA had defeated Mexico with a Dos A Cero result.

The subsequent three World Cup qualifiers hosted by the U.S. (in 2005, 2009, and 2013) all maintained this trend, with each ending in 2-0. There was even speculation regarding Clint Dempsey’s missed penalty kick in the 2013 match, with some believing he intentionally avoided scoring to preserve the scoreline. “Nah, I always try to score… I was a little bit tired,” Dempsey explained. U.S. midfielder Alejandro Bedoya also noted the unusual nature of the recurring scoreline, describing it as “this mystical thing, right? It’s like this ghost.” These victories, alongside exhibition matches in 2007 and 2015 with the same score, led to El Tri fans believing they were under a curse from Dos A Cero.

The Curse Is Broken – and ‘Dos A Cero’ 2.0

USMNT supporters often associate the 2018 World Cup qualifying cycle with a devastating loss to Trinidad & Tobago, which kept the team from competing in the tournament in Russia fb777 slot casino login philippines register. However, the campaign also revealed early signs of trouble. The first significant warning came on November 11, 2016, when Mexico finally ended the streak of victories for the U.S. in World Cup qualifiers hosted in Columbus. Miguel Layun’s goal in the 20th minute ensured Mexico would not leave empty-handed, resulting in a 2-1 win for Mexico after Bobby Wood equalized for the U. 777pub wimS. “It was a new opportunity for me, for all of us to write a new story, and we did that,” Rafael Marquez reflected post-match. This victory marked the end of the ominous Dos A Cero streak, sending the U.S. team into a period of turmoil.

The U.S. struggled in the following match against Costa Rica, losing 4-0, which ultimately led to the dismissal of manager Jürgen Klinsmann. The USMNT faced challenges throughout the remainder of the qualifying phase and failed to qualify for Russia.

Yet, the Dos A Cero scoreline re-emerged, albeit with a twist. The USMNT triumphed with another 2-0 victory over Mexico on November 21, 2021, in a World Cup qualifying match held in Cincinnati, featuring a goal from Christian Pulisic, who responded to comments from El Tri keeper Guillermo Ochoa about “Mexico being the mirror in which the [U.S.] wants to see itself.” The scoreline was once again alive thanks to Pulisic’s performance.

On March 24, 2024, the U.S. achieved another 2-0 victory, this time winning the Concacaf Nations League trophy over Mexico at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, adding to the Dos A Cero lore with iconic goals from Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna.

Finally, in a twist of fate, Mexico also claimed its own 2-0 victory, handing Mauricio Pochettino a harsh introduction to the rivalry during a friendly match in Guadalajara on October 15, 2024. Despite being a friendly, Pochettino experienced the sting of defeat at the hands of the U.S.-Mexico rivalry.

With both the USMNT and Mexico eager to conclude the summer with a trophy, fans can look forward to an exciting Gold Cup final in Houston. Will we witness that familiar scoreline lighting up the stadium once more?