COLUMBUS, OHIO — Since the turn of the millennium, “Dos a Cero” had become the refrain for quadrennial World Cup qualifying clashes in central Ohio between the U.S. and Mexican national soccer teams.
But after four consecutive home victories by the same two-goal margin against their bitter rivals, the Americans crashed to defeat Friday, 2-1, before a sellout of 24,650 at Mapfre Stadium.
“Dos a Cero?” Meet “Dos a Uno.”
On an 89th-minute corner kick, Rafael Marquez, Mexico’s 37-year-old captain with a long history of confrontations with the U.S. team, sent a glancing header over substitute goalkeeper Brad Guzan to further numb an already shivering crowd.