YOUNG AMERICANS SHUT OUT MEXICO USA 2, MEXICO 0.

Byline: Fred J. Robledo

Coach Bruce Arena killed two birds with one stone by inviting the future of American soccer to meet a watered-down cast from Mexico in an exhibition at the Coliseum Wednesday night.

First, there were 10 players on the roster who never played for the full national team, as well a handful of others with little experience gaining plenty of it against their most heated CONCACAF rival.

Second, the young players found out what it like to play in a hostile surrounding like the Coliseum, better known as Mexico's home away from home.

Even though the strength of the Mexican team remained bundled up in Mexico, 61,072 faithful supporters turned out a chilly weeknight to taunt the Americans and support their team, which hadn't faced the U.S. in the Coliseum since a 1-0 Mexican victory in February of 1998.

Showing no signs of intimidation, however, the United States played with confidence, earning a 2-0 victory to beat Mexico for the second consecutive time, following a 3-0 win earlier this year at Giants Stadium in the NIKE Cup.

It was only the second time in the history of its series with Mexico that the U.S. had back-to-back wins, a feat it accomplished back in 1994-95. Mexico leads the all-time series 27-7-9.

Landon Donovan, an 18-year-old who plays wtih Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, made his full national team debut in the 32nd minute, replacing Chris Henderson, who had a right-calf sprain.

After a listless first half by both teams, Donovan took a pass from former Galaxy striker Clint Mathis, used his footwoork to dribble around Mexican goalkeeper Adrian Martinez, leaving him an open-net goal in the 50th minute.

Making only his fourth national-team appearance, striker Josh Wolf finished off the Mexicans in the 79th minute, notching his first international goal for the full team.

Galaxy rookies Sasha Victorine, Peter Vagenas and Danny Califf didn't get in. Neither did Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman.

If the U.S. can reach the final stage of World Cup qualication, they will certainly see a different Mexican team, as well as field a different team itself.

Jeff Agoos, Carlos Llamosa and forward Chris Albright, a 68th-minute substitution in the 0-0 draw against Costa Rica on Oct. 11 at Columbus, were the only members from that squad to play Wednesday night.

Arena will recall his regular starters next month when the U.S. travels to unfriendly territory to meet Barbados in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Nov. 15. It's the biggest World Cup qualifier for Team USA since a 1-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in 1989, which sent the U.S. to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.

Arena, serving the second part of a three-game suspension imposed by FIFA for his critical remarks in a 2-1 loss to Costa Rica earlier this year, will not be on the field for that match.

The Americans need a win against Barbados or a Guatemala loss to Costa Rica to advance to the final stage of World Cup qualifying, which begins round-robin play next year. Mexico has already qualified.

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Photo: Jared Borgetti, left, of Mexico battles with Jeff Agoos of the United States during first half Wednesday night at the Coliseum.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press