Javier Hernandez (left) was stuffed twice by Tim Howard in the final minutes. Roberto Maya/AFP/Getty Images United States 1 Mexico 0 Final :: Mexico City Orozco Fiscal 80' 
 
 MEXICO CITY -- On the night the U.S. made history, goalkeeper Tim Howard walked slowly up the tunnel of the Estadio Azteca, one of the most famous stadiums in sports and a house of horrors for U.S. Soccer from the time it was built more than 40 years ago. 
 
 As he moved forward, Howard passed by all the signs that have been posted on the tunnel walls, one per country, showing the all-time records of Mexico against its international opponents. 
 
 Howard was headed toward the U.S. bus, but he decided to stop at the sign bearing the Stars and Stripes flag, "Estados Unidos," and a string of misery in the form of U.S. results here over the decades. U.S. kit man Jesse Bignami pulled out his cell phone and snapped a picture of Howard in a triumphant pose next to an artifact that was no longer accurate. 
 
 "Time to change the sign," Howard said, wearing a proud smile. "Time to change the sign." 
 
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 Until Wednesday, the U.S. had never beaten Mexico in Mexico in 24 games over 75 years going back to 1937. Until Wednesday, the U.S. tally read 23 losses, one tie and zero victories. Until Wednesday, the thought of this U.S. team finally winning in Mexico seemed close to impossible, not least because so many regulars were missing from the quickly assembled squad: Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Jozy Altidore. 
 
 And let's be honest: For most of Wednesday's game, it seemed likely that the U.S. would go home on the losing end again. Mexico dominated possession, spent most of its time in the U.S. end and forced the U.S. back line into a near-constant protect-and-defend mode. But the U.S. held firm, absorbing the pressure, with center back Geoff Cameron in particular having a standout game shutting down Mexican star Javier (Chicharito) Hernández. 
 
 In just his sixth U.S. appearance, Cameron played like taking on Mexico in the Azteca was no big deal. 
 
 "I tried not to think about it much, because the more you think about it the more worried and nervous you get," said Cameron, who just joined Stoke City of the English Premier League from Houston. "I was sweating profusely coming into the game, but I just tried to focus on myself and do the things I know how to do well." 
 
 As the second half progressed and the score remained 0-0, Howard thought maybe, just maybe, the U.S. could hold on for a tie. 
 
 "I was saying to myself at 75 minutes: If someone wants to stop the game, we'll take it," he said. 
 
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 But everything changed in the 80th minute. After a U.S. throw-in, Kyle Beckerman passed to Brek Shea on the left wing. After a breakout year in 2011, Shea had fallen back to earth hard in 2012, so much so that he was a surprise pick to even be on this U.S. squad. When he's on his game, though, Shea runs right at defenders like a Texas-bred running back, and that's exactly what he did, nutmegging Mexico's Severo Meza, barreling into the box and firing a pass to fellow substitute Terrence Boyd. 
 
 Boyd, a supremely confident German-American, surprised the Mexicans with an audacious back heel in the box that found Michael Orozco Fiscal free in space. It's fair to say that Orozco Fiscal had dropped off the U.S. radar even more than Shea had, and it's likely he was selected for this team mainly because he plays in Mexico. Orozco Fiscal had come upfield for the throw-in, and even though he's a defender, he stuck around in the Mexican penalty area. 
 
 "Shea took him one-v-one," said Orozco Fiscal, "and I was like, 'I'm gonna stay here and see what happens.'" 
 
 His first-time shot beat Mexican goalie Guillermo Ochoa, sparking a raucous U.S. celebration at the corner flag. 
 
 Mexico 0, United States 1. 
 
 The Mexicans staged a mad scramble to come back. Yet Howard ended those hopes with two remarkable saves on Hernández, including a point-blank header. 
 
 "I just tried to get a full hand on it, and it ended up hitting the top of my thumb, which gave it spin," Howard said. "I thought, 'Here we go again.' But we deserved a little bit of luck." 
 
 The ball stayed out of the U.S. net. 
 
 For years we wondered: What would the scene be like in the Azteca when the U.S. finally won a game here? When the whistle blew, we finally knew. The restless murmurs in the gigantic thunderdome dissipated into an eerie quiet. Some areas of the stadium turned angry, hurling projectiles onto a small U.S. fan section until police had to evacuate the American supporters. But outside the stadium the majority of Mexican fans merely set about going home. The general anger would likely have been higher had it been a World Cup qualifier instead of an exhibition game. 
 
 Years from now, though, people won't remember that Mexico had more possession in this game, or that it was "just a friendly." They'll remember one thing: on Aug. 15, 2012, the U.S. beat Mexico on Mexican soil for the first time in 25 tries. There's value in that for coach Jurgen Klinsmann as he tries to build a team that can compete at World Cup 2014, not just when it comes to playing good soccer but also when it comes to having the mentality to win difficult games. 
 
 "It's important to us to understand that we can compete with big teams at their stadiums," Klinsmann said. "With Azteca it's like when you play at Wembley in England or the Stade de France or in Berlin. Those are very special locations, and I want the players to appreciate that. I want the players to understand and take it all in, because you never know if you'll get another occasion like that. We told the players: You have nothing to lose here. Give it all you have." 
 
 In March, Klinsmann's U.S. men pulled off a 1-0 victory against Italy in Genoa, a historic result in a tough environment. And on Wednesday they did it again in the Azteca. Next year, results willing, the U.S. will return to the Estadio Azteca for a World Cup qualifier, and things will be different as a result of this memorable night -- on the field, in the players' minds and, not least, on a specific piece of printed posterboard in the stadium tunnel. 
 
 It's time to change the sign. ||||| The United States ended 75 years of frustration in Mexico, winning at its southern neighbor and regional rival for the first time Wednesday night when Michael Orozco Fiscal's goal in the 80th minute and Tim Howard's late sprawling saves provided a 1-0 victory. 
 
 U.S Michael Orozco celebrates after scoring during a friendly soccer game against Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (Associated Press) 
 
 U.S Michael Orozco, front, celebrates after scoring during a friendly soccer game against Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (Associated Press) 
 
 U.S. Michael Orozco celebrates with teammates after scoring during a friendly soccer game against Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (Associated Press) 
 
 U.S Michael Orozco, right, celebrates with teammate Terrence Boyd after scoring after scoring during a friendly soccer game against Mexico in Mexico City, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (Associated Press) 
 
 Dominated for most of the night, the Americans went ahead on a move created by a trio of second-half substitutes. 
 
 Brek Shea cut inside Severo Meza on the left flank and crossed to Terrence Boyd at the top of the 6-yard box. With his back to the goal, Boyd took a touch with his left foot and with his right made a quick backheel pass to Orozco Fiscal, who with his left foot poked it from 3 yards past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and defender Jorge Torres Nilo for his first international goal. 
 
 "The goal was for the U.S. fans and the whole U.S. We made history," said Orosco Fizcal, a 26-year-old defender from Orange, Calif., who plays in Mexico for San Luis. 
 
 He entered in the 77th minute for his fifth international appearance and first since October. Shea, back with the team for the first time since February following a season of turmoil in Major League Soccer, came on a minute later. Boyd had entered to start the second half. 
 
 "Just happy we won and made history," Shea said. "It's something we haven't done in a long time. Just to be on the roster is cool." 
 
 Howard preserved the lead, changing directions to stop a deflected shot by Javier Hernandez in the 85th, then pawing away a 4-yard downward header by Chicharito in the 89th. 
 
 "I think it's huge. It's huge for I think all American fans, it's huge for the team, and it's historic," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "We were very well aware that we've never won here at the Azteca Stadium. This is an amazing experience for the all the players. We told them before the game: This moment is for you, go and grab it. We are all aware that it was a lot, a lot of work." 
 
 The U.S. had been 0-23-1 against El Tri in 75 years of games at Mexico, including 0-19-1 in the thin air at altitude in Mexico City _ where they had been outscored 81-14. 
 
 "Tim Howard kept us in the game I don't know how many times," said Klinsmann, who has been trying to change the defensive mindset the American had at times under Bob Bradley. "It's a mental aspect of it. Eventually, you need a little bit of luck, too, and I think in some instances we were lucky tonight." 
 
 Mexico outshot the U.S. 15-6 and had a 10-0 advantage in corner kicks. But the Americans came away with their second big win this year, following February's first-ever victory over Italy, in a friendly at Genoa. 
 
 With the European clubs seasons getting under way, the U.S. used a half-strength roster and a makeshift central defense. 
 
 Mexico also was below strength following the Olympics _ Carlos Salcido, its regular left back, started in Sunday's win over Brazil in the gold-medal game. El Tri dominated possession but failed to connect on several open shots as the Americans paired Maurice Edu and Geoff Cameron in the center of their back line. 
 
 The game marked the start of the Americans' second year under Klinsmann, who replaced Bradley last summer after Mexico overcame a two-goal deficit to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup final 4-2. 
 
 The U.S. figures to have a lineup closer to full strength for a pair of World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica next month, on the road on Sept. 7 and at Columbus, Ohio, four days later. Mexico plays Costa Rica on those same days. 
 
 "We know we have to improve in many, many elements," Klinsmann said. "We have to keep the ball longer. We have to create more chances. We have to do a lot of work still. But I think this gives us a lot of confidence." 
 
 Landon Donovan, searching for his 50th international goal, left at the start of the second half because of a tight hamstring and DaMarcus Beasley came in for his 97th international appearance. Boyd came in at the same time to replace an ineffective Jose Torres. 
 
 Cameron got his head on a cross from Elias Hernandez in the 56th minute, preventing Hernandez from an open shot in front. A minute later, Jesus Zavala put an open header over the crossbar. 
 
 With Ochoa off his line, Kyle Beckerman put a long, sliding shot just over the crossbar in the 60th. 
 
 Andres Guardado hooked a free kick just wide to Howard's right post in the 65th after Cameron fouled Hernandez just outside the penalty area. Hernandez then sent an open header wide in the 76th off a cross from Hernandez. 
 
 "It was very difficult in high altitude, with many of them flying in from Europe two days ago," Klinsmann said. "But we had a plan, and we tried to execute that plan and getting that win here, I mean it's quite enjoyable."
– The US men's soccer team stunned Mexico Wednesday night by beating them on their home turf for the first time. Going into the game at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, one of the game's most intimidating and highest-altitude arenas, America's record against Mexico in 75 years of games was 23 losses, one tie, and zero wins. The Americans were dominated by Mexico for most of the game but won the friendly 1-0 with a late goal from Michael Orozco Fiscal, the AP reports. Mexico scrambled to get back in the game but were defeated by a pair of remarkable saves from goalkeeper Tim Howard. "The goal was for the US fans and the whole US. We made history," said Orosco Fizcal, a defender from Orange, California. "It's important to us to understand that we can compete with big teams at their stadiums," US coach Jurgen Klinsmann told Sports Illustrated. "With Azteca it's like when you play at Wembley in England or the Stade de France or in Berlin. Those are very special locations, and I want the players to appreciate that. I want the players to understand and take it all in, because you never know if you'll get another occasion like that. We told the players: You have nothing to lose here. Give it all you have." The team is back in action for a pair of World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica next month.