Global InformationAztecazo information
 The Estadio Azteca hosted the match. | |||||||
| Event | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification match | ||||||
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| Date | 16 June 2001 | ||||||
| Venue | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Rolando Fonseca | ||||||
| Referee | Carlos Batres (Guatemala) | ||||||
| Attendance | 60,000 | ||||||
On 16 June 2001, Mexico played Costa Rica in a football match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico on the fourth matchday of the final round in the qualification process for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Mexico and Costa Rica reached the matchday with four points, both losing as visitors against the United States.[1][2] Arnoldo Rivera in La Nación described the match as "crucial" as lackluster results by both teams raised doubts prior to the match.[3] The match ended in an unprecedented loss by Mexico. The Mexicans led 1–0 at half-time, with a header by José Manuel Abundis. Costa Rica then made a comeback in the second half, with goals by Rolando Fonseca and Hernán Medford, ending the match 1–2.
The game marked the first loss suffered by Mexico in the Azteca Stadium in a FIFA World Cup qualification match.[4] It was subsequently referred to as the Aztecazo, a name created by Costa Rican journal La Nación.[5] Costa Rica went on to qualify to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in first place with a record 23 points.[6] Mexico suffered a second consecutive loss in a visit against Honduras, which prompted the resignation of coach Enrique Meza.[7]
- ^ "United States 2–0 Mexico". FIFA.com. FIFA. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ "United States 1–0 Costa Rica". FIFA.com. FIFA. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ Rivera, Arnoldo (16 June 2001). "La hora señalada". La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ "Momentos que inmortalizaron al estadio Azteca". BBC Mundo. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ "Nacion.com". wvw.nacion.com. La Nación. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ "Costa Rica cierra hexagonal con triunfo 1-0 ante Jamaica". La Nación (in Spanish). 11 November 2001. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ "Renunció Enrique Meza, tras la derrota de 3-1 ante Honduras". UNAM. 21 June 2001. Retrieved 19 March 2017.