Mexico trips US again

The win strengthened Mexico’s chances of reaching next year’s World Cup in South Africa. The Mexicans entered the game fourth in CONCACAF qualifying, with only the top three teams automatically advancing. Mexico now has 9 points, 1 behind Honduras, which beat group leader Costa Rica, 4-0, last night.

“This wasn’t a live-or-die game for us,’’ Landon Donovan said. “It was for them.’’

Sabah, who came in three minutes earlier, was all alone in front of the net when he took a feed from Efrain Juarez and beat goalkeeper Tim Howard, bringing Mexico’s home record against the Americans to 23-0-1. Defender Jay DeMerit made a key tackle on Juarez in the area, but the ball, instead of bounding out-of-bounds, went to Sabah, who put it away.

“I think it’s a tight game and a fair score,’’ US coach Bob Bradley said. “It’s tough loss to have so many guys work so hard and then give up a late goal. The feeling inside is one of great disappointment.’’

The Americans, who entered the match second in qualifying with 10 points, nearly silenced the piercing drone of horns, drums, and high-pitched screams in the ninth minute when Charlie Davies gave the US a 1-0 lead on a world-class goal, the fourth of his career. Donovan turned near midfield and threaded a pass through three Mexicans on the left side to Davies, who timed a perfect run and scored just inside the far post from 15 yards.

It was the first time the Americans led a match at Azteca Stadium, which opened 43 years ago.

“This is what you live for, especially as a striker scoring bigtime goals,’’ Davies said.

The US edge lasted only 10 minutes. In the 19th, Cuauhtemoc Blanco found Israel Castro, who equalized on a wicked 27-yard shot off the underside of the crossbar and just over a leaping Howard’s outstretched hand.

The goal turned up the volume again for 105,000 fans in sold-out Azteca, where almost every touch of the ball by a Mexican player was greeted by cheers of “Ole, Ole.’’

Mexico won the Gold Cup last month using many of the same players. But the US team the Mexicans routed, 5-0, in the final was a lesser squad than the one on the field at Azteca.

Still, no US squads win in Mexico, and Sabah made sure that long string of futility continued.

“We did a good job starting the game well and scoring,’’ Donovan said. “They made one play at the end that made the difference. It’s hard to play here, man. It wears you out. It’s just exhausting.’’

In the 74th minute, tempers flared. With Davies down on the field - apparently with cramps - several Mexican players tried to pull him off the ground. That angered Benny Feilhaber, who shoved several Mexicans as Howard came out of goal to separate the sides.

Three American defenders - Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, and Carlos Bocanegra - drew yellow cards in a game that became increasingly physical. Onyewu carried a yellow into the match, meaning he will miss the next qualifier, Sept. 5 against El Salvador in Sandy, Utah.