Published 2/9/2007 2:54:27 PM by SoccerAmerica from socceramerica.com

Jimmy Conrad borrowed a page from the Oguchi Oneywu book while preparing to tangle with powerful Mexican striker Jared Borgetti. The two clashed several times during the USA's 2-0 win on Wednesday and an early confrontation sparked a toe-to-toe shouting match that was as much psychological as physical.

''I watched Gooch in the 2005 World Cup qualifier and I thought, 'This is the way to go, get into his head a little bit,''' said Conrad, who did lose the mark once on Borgetti but his header sailed wide. ''I thought I might as well see where it's at.

''It's not just Borgetti, it's all of them. You want to break up their rhythm. The best way to play against Mexico is not let them get into a rhythm. I thought we did a good job tonight of keeping them in front of us and not letting them knife through us with any one-twos that they like to do.''

Conrad escaped Carlos Salcido to bury his header on a Donovan corner kick that brought him his first international goal and broke open a scoreless game.

After Donovan scored the second goal, Johnson ran across the field to join him in celebration and grounded Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez lashed out in a futile effort to kick him as he zipped past. In his postgame comments, Sanchez downplayed the incident, citing it as just one of those things that happens in a game. The Mexican players also refused to shake hands with the Americans or exchange jerseys at the final whistle.

LINEUP QUIRKS. Despite naming 20 players to the squad for the game against Mexico, Coach Bob Bradley has just one defender, Bobby Boswell, on the bench and of his two substitute forwards, only one was fully healthy.

Taylor Twellman threw out his back in training prior to the team's departure for Arizona, and thus only Eddie Johnson was in reserve for starters Landon Donovan and Chris Rolfe. This twin-Smurf tandem seldom troubled Mexico and prompted Bradley to bring on Johnson for Rolfe in the second half.

''They both are similar in the fact that they're good with the ball, they're crafty, and we felt like they could find some spaces and play off of each other and make it difficult,'' said Bradley. ''The first half there so little space and it was so tight that it didn't materialize probably the way we hoped. We were hoping they could produce some plays. That's what those players are all about, players that in a game where it's tight and fast still can go by someone, still lay off the right pass.

''Like I said, it didn't happen as well as we would have liked tonight, but the experience of being in these kinds of games is important.''

The decision to play Jonathan Bornstein at left back could have backfired but despite a few defensive glitches, the gamble paid off as Bornstein's ball skills and quickness prompted several promising attacks. The logjam at left mid (Bobby Convey, Justin Mapp, DaMarcus Beasley) notwithstanding, he may see time in this position as well, but if any position needs filling, it's left back.

TOP 6 U.S. HOME CROWDS vs. Mexico
92,216 USA 2 Mexico 2 (1996) Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
91,255 USA 0 Mexico 1 (1998) Los Angeles Coliseum
91,123 USA 1 Mexico 0 (1994) Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
69,582 USA 0 Mexico 0 (2003) Reliant Stadium (Houston)
62,462 USA 2 Mexico 0 (2007) University of Phoenix Stadium
61,072 USA 2 Mexico 0 (2000) Los Angeles Coliseum

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