Columbus, OH (My Sportsbook) - Michael Bradley scored a goal in each half as the United States secured a 2-0 win over Mexico in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday at Crew Stadium.
Bradley's first goal came off of a corner kick in the 43rd minute, and after Mexico's Rafael Marquez was sent off in the 65th minute, Bradley put the result out of reach with a long-range shot in stoppage time.
The Americans are now 9-0-2 on home soil against Mexico since 2000, and they have outscored their neighbors to the south by a combined score of 19-3 in those 11 matches.
Wednesday's contest was the first for both teams in the last round of CONCACAF qualifying, with the USA traveling to El Salvador for its next game on March 28, while Mexico will host Costa Rica on the same day.
The match nearly got off to a disastrous start for the Americans as some sloppy play in the back handed Mexico a glorious chance inside of four minutes.
A failed clearance by Carlos Bocanegra inside the box led to a loose ball in front of goal that was pounced on Giovanni Dos Santos. The young forward was just eight yards from goal but he smashed his point-blank effort straight into the legs of goalkeeper Tim Howard.
The Americans settled into the game after a sluggish start and they created their first good chance in the 22nd minute when Landon Donovan's free-kick from 20 yards sailed just past the left post.
Donovan was involved again in the 31st minute when DaMarcus Beasley's left- wing cross found the forward at the back post. He then nodded the ball down for Clint Dempsey inside the box, but his shot was parried by Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, keeping the match scoreless.
The breakthrough finally came two minutes before halftime when Beasley's corner was hit long to the back post for Donovan. He got his head to the ball once again and directed it into the six-yard box for Oguchi Onyewu, who turned it on goal.
Sanchez once again came up with a good stop, but Bradley was on hand to slam the rebound into the back of the net from close range, giving the hosts a big boost heading into halftime.
The second half was tight at the start but the match turned in the 65th minute with Mexico just missing an equalizer and then having a player sent off.
A free-kick from midfield was played into the box and redirected to Israel Martinez on the left. He then fired a shot through the face of goal from a tight angle that just missed the far post.
The ensuing cross was plucked out of the air by Howard, but Marquez came in with his studs up on the keeper, earning himself a straight red card.
There was an anxious moment in the 79th minute for the Americans when Onyewu failed to deal with a long ball inside the box. However, Howard was able to clear the ball to safety despite being under pressure from Carlos Ochoa.
Bradley then killed off the match in stoppage time with a great strike from 30 yards that slipped underneath Sanchez to secure all three points.
