Hurrah for the red, white and blue, and stars and stripes forever

The match was history, a joyous history, and over an hour past the final whistle, they were still celebrating.

Yes, Friday night was a colorful red, white and blue one for the men’s soccer team of the United States.

To break it down, just count to three. Number one, it put on display a dominating second half and shut down the more experienced Mexico to the stunning tune of 2-0.

Number two, it was the first time since 1937 that the USA had defeated its South of the Border neighbors three times in one season

A number three, it vaulted the young Americans to the current top of the heap, in first place at the halftime mark of qualifying for the prestigious World Cup.

And last but certainly not last, it was played on USA soil before a turnout of 16,037 at the new Cincinnati, Ohio, indoor venue, and it was loud, full of fun, all dressed up in USA colors, and with various noisemakers.

It was a crowd that included a limited number of Mexicans and other Hispanics, and it roared the most when rising star Christian Pulisic broke the scoreless tie in the 74th minute when, with a Mexican player low and alongside him, he headed a quick corner kick past the goalkeeper and into the left side of the goal.

Still regaining fitness after spraining his left ankle in September 8th in Honduras, the 23-year-old Pulisic entered in place of Brenden Aaronson in the 69th minute and lifted the United States into a first place tie with Mexico as the 14-game final round of qualifying reached the halfway mark.

The U.S., which picked up an insurance goal in the 85th minute from Weston McKennie, moved into the top spot in the Northern, Central American and Caribbean region with 14 points, and ahead of Mexico on points difference.

Then there’s Canada with 13 point, Panama with 11, and Costa Rica, Jamaica, and El Salvador with six each, and Honduras with three.

But as rivalries go, the United States and Mexico are up on top in the sport, and while it’s tough to turn back our border neighbors on their land, this impressive triumph in Cincinnati played out just fine for the red, white and blue, and it was a match of stars and stripes.

But unlike it was in the last four matches contested in Columbus, Ohio, this time it didn’t attract anything near that in regard to Hispanics, and so the victorious celebration went on before a full house of American fans who also hung around before celebrating outside.