Ranking the top US wins of all time

[FWHORN]

So the talking heads on ESPN asked if this was the biggest win in US soccer history. Tap on the brakes guys, huge win but at best I rank it fifth or even sixth.

1. USA 2-0 over Mexico in 2002 Round of 16; this should be the clear number one pending Saturday's result. This is the match that took US to quarterfinals of World Cup and in terms of impact etc. has to rank as most significant. Ask any Mexican fan and they will tell you this is by far their most devastating defeat.

2. USA 2 Colombia 1 World Cup '94, win that guaranteed US advancement to round of 16 and sadly led to the death of a Colombian player

3. USA 3 Portugal 2 '02 WC, Portugal was a pre tournament favorite, this was the team of Figo et al and the US blew out to a 3-0 lead and held on for life, those 3 points got the Yanks into the round of 16 where my top match occurred.

4. USA 2-0 over England 1993 US Cup; that win legitimized the US team for the '94 World Cup and was huge in getting the US psychologically ready for '94 plus its England any win over them is huge

Today might slot in at 5th in competition with the 1950 upset of England (which continues to move down the list and that is a good thing), the 1989 win in Port of Spain to finally end 40 years of wandering in the desert of no W/C's, the '95 3-0 win over Argentina in the Copa America and the 1-0 win over Brazil in the '98 Gold Cup semifinals.

 

[GemStateJim]

I would argue this win is bigger than your No.4.

This was do or die, all or nothing, win the group and advance or go home. The 1993 England result was a glorified friendly.

Ultimately, World Cup wins > anything else.

 

[TexinID]

The win over Spain in the Confed cup last summer deserves consideration.

 

[SchertzHorn]

Just a quick note on the Columbia game, which was one of my favorites and the biggest US win at that point in US soccer. If you didn't see the 30 for 30 series on Andres and Pablo Esocbar on ESPN, it is a must see. Please set your DVR and watch it. At one point, I almost felt guilty we won that game!!

 

[LocoGringos]

Um, defeat England 1950 in WC, considered the biggest upset of all time.

The win today won group, dodging Germany and Argentina. Forget the apples to oranges 1930 ESPN stat when there were 8 teams in the tournament. Today was a hell of a lot bigger than beating Mexico, who we haven't lost to in 15 years or so.

 

[FWHORN]

We have lost to Mexico several times in the past 15 years, most recently last year in W/C qualifying and in the Gold Cup final.

The win over England in 1950 may be a huge upset (potentially biggest of all time) but in terms of its significance it grows less and less important and that is a good thing.

 

[DVPMD]

USA over Uruguay in the quarterfinals - this year.