Next week starts the Road to the 2018 World Cup for United States, beginning their journey against their fierce rival, Mexico. With the amount of passion shown from all fans throughout the match, there is always a lot of hype before these games. Here are five matches to remember from the biggest rivalry in North American soccer.
5. 2009 Gold Cup final- Mexico 5-0 USA
The 2009 Gold Cup final was one of the most embarrassing losses in United States national team history as they were outclassed in every way possible when Mexico put up five unanswered goals on the counter attack at the Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, giving the Mexicans their largest win over the United States since 1958.
4. 2011 Gold Cup Final- Mexico 4-2 USA
The two teams came head to head again two years later in another Gold Cup final. Mexico ran out victorious as the United States failed to contain the talented Mexican attack that were led by Javier Hernandez and Giovani Dos Santos after the United States went 2-0 up early on. Dos Santos scored the goal of the tournament putting a twenty yard lob over stranded United States goalkeeper Tim Howard and three other defenders.
3. 2014 World Cup Qualifier USA 2-0 Mexico
For these two teams, qualifying for the World Cup is a must and starting off well determines how the rest of the qualification will go. Goals from Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson gave USA a good start to qualification. They would eventually cruise the group to a win while Mexico was minutes away from missing the World Cup and just qualified through a playoff game.
2. 2015 CONCACAF Playoff Game Mexico 3-2 USA
The United States came into this game in very bad form after a very poor finish in the Gold Cup in the summer, losing to Jamaica and Panama. Mexico on the other hand had won the Gold Cup and were in very good form coming into this game. The winner of this game would qualify for the Confederations Cup in Russia. In a crowd of 93,000 people in Pasadena, California, Mexico took a quick lead in the 6th minute through Javier Hernandez before Geoff Cameron leveled just nine minutes later. The game went to extra time when Mexico took the lead through Oribe Peralta before Bobby Wood went and tied it up again. A spectacular bicycle kick from Paul Aguilar won the game leaving many United States fans in tears.
1. 2002 World Cup Round of 16 USA 2-0 Mexico
These two teams drew each other in South Korea in the World Cup and it was one of the most anticipated matches in the long history of the rivalry. Goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan lead the way for the United States to pull of one of their greatest triumphs on World Cup history.
