Mexico defeated the U.S. men's national team on Friday in their FIFA World Cup qualifier match, a "stunning 2-1 victory" before a sellout crowd of 24,650 fans at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, according to Tom Reed of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. The Americans had been 4-0 against their "biggest rival" in Columbus since '01 in qualifiers and 8-0-3 versus all opposition. Reed noted when the USMNT "comes back to Columbus is anyone's guess." U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati has said that he had "no plans to move the US-Mexico showcase until at least the Americans lost" in Columbus. Other markets with more modern soccer-specific stadiums have been "waiting for the chance to host it." Friday's match "appeared to play out without major incidents in the stands" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 11/12). In N.Y., Sam Borden noted the defeat was the first home World Cup qualifier setback for the U.S. since a loss to Honduras in '01 (N.Y. TIMES, 11/12). In Columbus, Michael Arace noted the result was "heartbreaking for the American supporters who made up the great bulk of the crowd." But other cities -- K.C. in particular -- "want to host this game," and their "only chance to get it" was through a U.S. loss (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 11/12).
