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USMNT all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan needed only a few words in a social media post to ignite fury among a significant portion of Mexico's fanbase.
"#TresACero is the new #DosACero," Donovan wrote, celebrating the USMNT's 3–0 triumph over El Tri on Saturday evening.
With just a brief phrase, Donovan sparked a new trend while simultaneously unearthing the deeply buried bones of a rivalry stretching back over 25 years.
What Is the #DosACero Rivalry Between USMNT and Mexico?
Donovan's nod to "Tres a Cero" is straightforward enough: the U.S. claimed a 3–0 win in Arizona over the weekend. Yet the national team that the elusive forward represented had long made a habit of defeating Mexico 2–0 — "Dos a Cero."
That scoreline first appeared in 2001, when Donovan watched from the sidelines as goals from Josh Wolff and Earnie Stewart delivered a memorable victory over their southern rivals. The Concacaf Clásico would resurface on the grand stage of the World Cup round of 16 the following year, with the Stars and Stripes prevailing once more — Donovan netting the second goal in another 2–0 win.
The U.S. enjoyed a remarkable run of results against Mexico at the dawn of the 21st century, cementing a beloved scoreline that Mauricio Pochettino's squad managed to eclipse on Saturday.
"The rivalry on the pitch is fierce—it's a battle to the death," Pochettino said. "We want to beat Mexico, but afterwards, there is respect." Donovan, it seems, didn't quite receive that message.
'Positives to Take'—Mexico Boss Has Interesting Take on Humbling Defeat
Rafael Márquez was one of Mexico's most formidable adversaries against the U.S. throughout his distinguished playing career. The former center back was dismissed in that 2002 World Cup loss and entered this weekend's derby fully aware of what was at stake. Despite the heavy scoreline, Márquez was still able to identify "positives."
El Tri began as the stronger side, pressing the U.S. deep for the opening 25 minutes before Julian Hall broke the deadlock for the hosts. "I think Mexico started very well in the first half," Pochettino openly acknowledged. "They forced us to play defensively. We never really found our rhythm."
"It's a process, and I'm confident we can maintain the level of play we showed against Colombia, at least up until the 28th minute [tonight], when the goal was scored," Márquez contended. "I think there are positives to take away, but obviously, we need to be self-critical."
When pressed on identifying those specific problems, the new Mexico manager conceded his side did "lack a bit more clarity going forward," but attributed much of the result to individual errors from his goalkeeper. "The other issues were terrible mistakes where, ultimately, you practically handed those three goals to the opposing team."