April 20, 1997 – Record 57,047 crowd for Dos a Dos
Post by frankdellapa@gmail.com
Carlos Hermosillo blocked a Kasey Keller attempted clearance into the net 38 seconds into the game, fastest goal in Foxboro Stadium history. Then, dos a dos was considered a very positive result for the U.S. national team, but the most significant figure associated with this match was the crowd total: 57,407 (more than 17,000 more than the previous high for a U.S. home World Cup Qualifier).
Mexico coach Bora Milutinovic took credit for encouraging Hermosillo to pressure Keller on clearances, the strategy paying off as the “early goal silenced the crowd of 57,407.” Milutinovic wore a Soccer America magazine scarf honoring him as the best U.S. national team coach in the last 25 years. The U.S. scored as Eddie Pope headed in a free kick (35th minute), the Luis Hernandez chipped Keller (54th), and Nicolas Ramirez surrendered an own goal by heading an Earnie Stewart cross (74th). Hernandez earned a late caution for tripping the New England Revolution’s Alexi Lalas.
Foxborough used to be the go-to site for the USMNT, which went unbeaten (7-0-3) at Foxboro Stadium from 1991-2001. The USMNT has a combined 5-0-1 record in World Cup Qualifiers at Foxboro/Gillette.
U.S. 2:2 Mexico, First WCQ at Foxboro Stadium (Att.: 57,407).
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