U.S.-Mexico renew rivalry tonight

The U.S. men's national team has owned Mexico in recent years. Since 2000, they've compiled a 9-2-1 record against their southern rivals, dramatically reversing decades of suffering at the feet of the Mexicans. The results have been even more stark on U.S. soil, with the yanks going 8-0-1 and running up a 15-1 scoring advantage. Most recently, Benny Feilhaber sent the Mexicans to defeat in the finals of the Gold Cup with a stunning gamewinner. This string of ugly results is driving Hugo Sanchez's side loopy with anger.

The bitter rivalry continues tonight in Houston. Both squads have called in some of their big guns from Europe. The Mexico roster features stalwarts Rafa Marquez (Barcelona) and Pavel Pardo (Stuttgart), along with youngsters Carlos Vela (Osasuna) and Giovanni dos Santos (Barcelona). The U.S. will likely count on Michael Bradley (Herenveen), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), and Landon Donovan (L.A. Galaxy) to pace the attack, while the kids Jozy Altidore (New York Red Bull) and Freddy Adu (Benfica) could provide a spark off the bench.

Kickoff is 8 p.m. CST from Reliant Stadium. More than 55,000 tickets have been sold. ESPN2 and Univision will both be carrying the match live. Folks will be gathering to watch locally at the Sweetwater. Join us. My pal Andy is promising free yank swag courtesy of the American Outlaws.

Here's Feilhaber's wonderstrike: