7/4/09 - The United States National Arena Soccer Team (USNAST) had its best chance of beating the Mexican National Futbol Rapido Team only to come undone at the hands of Ivan Medina and a late penalty for too many men on the field.  Mexico continued its dominance in international play with a 6-5 win over the USNAST at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas.

The US, who fell to 2-7 in international play, including 0-5 vs. Mexico, looked sharp early building a 3-1 lead midway through the second quarter.  But Medina would score his second and third goals of the game to tie the score at 3-3 and the teams would exchange goals to go into halftime tied at 4-4.  The game was scoreless until Medina's goal at 13:23 of the first quarter which started a run of eight goals in 16:34.

Medina gave Mexico a shot-lived 5-4 lead at 2:39 of the third quarter, but Aaron Susi answered right back 30 seconds later to knot the game at 5-5.  The US failed to convert a power play in the third quarter and Majell Aterado missed a couple promising opportunities.

Medina didn't do anything spectacular except position himself well and finish his chances and it was his fifth goal of the night that proved to be the game winner at 7:54 of the fourth quarter.

Nelson Santana was the most dangerous player for the USNAST, scoring two goals and pressuring Mexico into several turnovers.  Goalkeeper Craig Salvati also did his part to keep the US in the game with a number of difficult saves.  It proved to be a disappointing week for the USNAST, which went 0-3 in Montreal and Texas despite losing all three games by a mere four combined goals. 

1st quarter

Scoreless at 1:43 remaining 1st quarter

MEX -- Medina (Quiroz) 13:23 1-0 restart
USNAST--Sutton (Susi) 14:03 1-1

2nd quarter

USA - Santana 2:59 2-1 USA shot off the post from outside the yellow line
Salvati and Velez get tangled up and exchange words
US with some sloppy turnovers, but defending well
USA - Santana (Susi) 8:56 3-1
MEX - Medina (Teran) 10:34 USA 3-2
MEX - Medina 11:17 3-3 Medina hat trick
MEX - Rivas (Medina) 12:42 4-3 MEX
USA - Sutton (Salvati) 14:57 4-4 long ball off the cross bar that Sutton poked in

3rd quarter
MEX - Medina (Teran) 2:39 (PP)
USA - Susi 3:09
MEX - Velez Penalty probably saved a goal taking down Santana
:58 remaining on US power play, free kick USA top of the arc
MEX - misconduct on Rene Ortiz who screamed at the ref and then slammed the door twice after a hard check from Santana was called only a foul

4th quarter
Archibald and Teran with coincidental blue cards for an altercation at 6:08
timeout USA
MEX - Medina (Velez) 7:54 6-5 Mexico, Medina’s 5th goal
USA penalty at 13:26  too many men

FINAL