Associated Press

The coach refused to show any favoritism.

"I have three children and I've got to tell you, I'm proud of all of my kids," he said diplomatically. "I have a great family and I'm a lucky man."

On a wet and windy night at Crew Stadium - under the threat of a tornado watch - the Americans ran their record to 9-0-2 on U.S. soil against Mexico since 2000.

Tickets had sold out in 90 minutes, with many of the 23,776 fans showing up hours before to stand in the rain while waving flags and wearing their national colors.

"When we first came out to warm up there were quite a few Mexicans - I think they got here early," veteran midfielder Landon Donovan said. "When we came out to kick off, the majority of people were Americans. They were great. They were very loud."

The crowd fueled what happened later.

"I think everybody on our team was really excited to play tonight," Michael Bradley said. "Anytime you play against Mexico, it's special. On top of it, it's for a World Cup qualifier."

After both teams played cautiously at the outset, the Americans finally broke through.

DaMarcus Beasley's corner kick found Landon Donovan at the far side of the 6-yard box, with Donovan heading it back into the scrum. Oguchi Onyewu's header was stopped by diving Mexico goaltender Oswaldo Sanchez, but the rebound came right into the path of Bradley, who kicked it in from 6 yards.

"It was a great corner from Beas, and Landon did a great job heading it back," Bradley said. "It was not so hard for me to put it in."

That touched off a wild celebration just a few feet from the red-clad Sam's Army, which danced in the aisles and threw confetti up into the jet stream winds.

Then, in second-half stoppage time, Bradley took a pass from Donovan and his shot from 28 yards dipped under Sanchez's arms. It secured the third straight 2-0 win for the Americans over Mexico at Crew Stadium in World Cup qualifying.

Mexico captain Rafael Marquez was ejected in the 65th minute when he went high to spike goalkeeper Tim Howard as they went for a loose ball. Howard, who angrily threw the ball down while he flexed his leg, also picked up a yellow card for delay of game on the ensuing free kick.

Howard is suspended for the U.S. game against El Salvador on March 28 for his second yellow card in qualifying.

"I wanted to apologize publicly to my teammates, and to the coaches and to the administration and to the fans and to my country," Marquez said later.

"Tell my fans that I'm sorry. It's just the desire to win and not knowing what to do, maybe it's provocation. ... I know I'm important to the team. And I shouldn't set this kind of example. But this is just starting. There are still many important games."

The loss could mean more trouble for Mexico coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. His team, with just one win in its last seven outings, barely made it into the final round of qualifying. A former manager of England, he had been brought on to stop what many Tricolores fans consider an almost unforgivable sin: losing to the United States.

Mexico easily controlled the series for decades, but the U.S. team has now gone 13-7-8 since 1990 to narrow Mexico's advantage to 29-15-11.

"Football is a big sport and, face it, sometimes it's not a friend of (patience)," Eriksson said. "But I'm optimistic because I think we have a good team. We have to score goals - that's our biggest problem."

Michael Bradley said it was the Americans' defense that spelled the difference.

"We did a real nice job of getting after them and not letting them breathe," Bradley said.

The match was the first of 10 in the final round of qualifying for each team. The United States next plays at El Salvador before taking on Trinidad and Tobago on April 1 in Nashville, Tenn. Mexico entertains Costa Rica on March 28.

Mexico's best shot at tying came in the 71st minute when Carlos Ochoa was wide right on a kick from 34 yards.

Notes: The United States has not lost a home match to a continental rival since 2001, going 37-0 with 10 draws. Included in that domination is a sterling record at Crew Stadium, home of the 2008 Major League Soccer champions. The Americans are unbeaten in eight international games (5-0-3) in Crew Stadium and are 4-0-2 in World Cup qualifiers. ... On Feb. 28, 2001, the Americans won 2-0 in 28-degree weather, with ice fringing the field - a match now called Guerra Fria, or the Cold War. They won by the same score in much warmer weather in September 2005 to help secure a spot in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. "Clearly there's an advantage for us, and a disadvantage for them," Donovan said. "Mentally it's got to weigh on them. I can't imagine they like coming here. And we love playing here."

The Border Rivalry

• Border Rivalry revisited

At Columbus, Ohio

Mexico 0 0-0

United States 1 1-2

First half-1, United States, Bradley, 43rd minute.

Second half-2, United States, Bradley (Donovan), 90th minute.

Yellow Card-Howard, US, 67th. Red Card-Marquez, Mex, 65th.

Referee-Carlos Batres, Guatemala. Linesmen-Roberto Giron, Honduras; Edwin Gonzalez, Guatemala.

A-23,776.

Lineups

Mexico-Oswaldo Sanchez; Aaron Galindo, Carlos Salcido, Rafael Marquez, Ricardo Osorio; Leandro Augusto, Alberto Medina (Antonio Naelson, 60th), Pavel Pardo; Carlos Ochoa, Nery Castillo (Israel Martinez, 34th), Giovani dos Santos (Omar Bravo, 72nd)

United States-Tim Howard; Frankie Hejduk, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce; Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan (Ricardo Clark, 86th), DaMarcus Beasley; Landon Donovan, Brian Ching (Jozy Altidore, 83rd)