by Jamie Trecker

The loss should not dent the Americans' World Cup aspirations, but it will increase the pressure on manager Bob Bradley, whose teams have now collapsed in the second half three times in big games this summer.

Against Brazil in the Confederations Cup final, the USA coughed up a 2-0 lead to drown 3-2, and against Mexico on the 26th of July, the USA were whipped 5-0.

Today, the Americans gave away an early lead to fall 2-1 on Miguel Sabah's 82nd minute winner.

The Americans, of course, have never won a game at the Azteca. Lifetime, the Americans are now 0-23-1 at the stadium. Mexico also has not lost a game there since 2001, when they were upset by Costa Rica (their only loss ever in qualifying at the famed stadium).

And yet, this was a bad loss for the Americans. All eyes were on this U.S. team after its surprising run to the Confederations Cup final. And consensus was that this was a weakened Mexico side, ripe for the taking. To put their mark on this region — and on the minds of sports fans across the States — the USA had to win this game.

They didn't. And once more, the USA let the big game get away.

If this is possible, even more troubling than the Americans' penchant for losing big games is the manner in which they continue to do it.

Once again, the USA failed to control the midfield game, failed to see its 'stars' show up, and failed to put together a complete game. The Americans looked solid enough in the first half, despite conceding a goal to Israel Castro in the 19th minute, but then began to fray as the match went on. By the second half, the USA had lost all sense of shape and purpose, and it cost them dearly.

Again.

Many fans will question Bradley's decision to start Steve Cherundolo and Brian Ching — two players who underwhelmed at the Gold Cup, over Jozy Altidore and Jonathan Spector.

Sabah's late winner was a crushing blow for the U.S., but they have only themselves to blame. (Alfredo Estrella / Getty Images)

The logic behind that decision — which is questionable on its face — was that Spector and Altidore had just started training with their Premier League teams and might not be fully fit. Well, Cherundolo and Ching might have been fitter, but they were also ineffective. Mexico routinely strolled down the flank, drawing Cherundolo out of position and opening up the field, while Ching was unable to impose himself on the game as a target man.

More fans will question Bradley's substitutions. Stuart Holden, Benny Feilhaber and Altidore came on and did little with their allotted time.

And yet, Jose Francisco Torres remains rooted to the bench, while Michael Bradley and Ricardo Clark were awful.

Most damagingly, the two men who must have big games for the USA to succeed did not. Landon Donovan made one great pass — to Charlie Davies to score the opening goal in the 8th minute — and then vanished. Clint Dempsey was forced back too deep to be at all effective.

Neither man received any service from a back line that kept giving the ball back to Mexico. Most times, when the Tricolores lost the ball, the USA would happily give it back, with a misplaced pass or bubble trap. The result was that Mexico dominated possession, created many more chances, and deservedly won the game.

And some fans, looking to blame anyone but the players and coaches, will try to pin this one on the referee, Panama's Roberto Moreno, who is one of the best officials in the region.

But let's reflect — did Moreno ask Oguchi Onyewu to handle the ball? Nope.

Nor did he ask Bocanegra to make yet another inexplicable tackle. Did Moreno give the homers some calls? Yep — just as every home team gets, including the USA. But anyone foolish enough to try and blame the man in the middle for this debacle either wasn't watching or is fundamentally unable to understand the game.

The bottom line is that the only field players who had good games for the Americans were Onyewu and Davies. The midfield was non-existent, and the defense was constantly under pressure. Had Tim Howard not made a couple of key saves, this could have been a blowout.

So now the question is who will pay for this one?

The answer to that question is depressingly familiar. U.S. Soccer seems unable or unwilling to make a change at the top, so it won't likely be the coach. Fans have been making excuses for the players for a generation, so those guys are likely to get a bye as well.

But outside the insular world of American soccer — the only place where Brian Ching is seriously considered a viable international talent — the reaction will be one of disdain and disgust.

See, in the reality-based sports world, fans, teams and pundits don't make or accept excuses for failure. They demand changes. But since soccer in this nation seems paralyzed, those reality-based sports fans are going to conclude that American soccer is a sport that isn't worth wasting their time on.

Keep in mind that sports fans have been burned repeatedly by the hype. They keep tuning in after being told they're going to see something special. And every time (outside of the Spain match), they're presented with a group of guys who can't win the big game.

The fact is, these performances — if left unchecked — will kill the sport in America. That fact seems lost on soccer executives, who keep claiming that these failures are "learning experiences."

They're not. They're confirmation of America's inability to grow up and take this sport seriously. And that's why the USA will continue to lose the big game.

Jamie Trecker's newest book, "Love and Blood: At the World Cup with the Footballers, Fans and Freaks" is out now from Harcourt. Jamie is assisted by Jerry and Janice Trecker. Contact Jamie at jamie.trecker@gmail.com and visit his blog and website at www.jamietrecker.com.

The views and opinions expressed by Jamie Trecker do not necessarily reflect those of the Fox Soccer Channel or FoxSoccer.com.