Vindication. Satisfaction. Domination.

After finally earning a win against the Americans on U.S. soil, Mexico's players used all of those words yesterday to describe the 5-0 romp that gave them their fifth Gold Cup championship at East Rutherford, N.J.

Oh, and one other noun: pride.

"I believe this is a great win for Mexico because we showed the pride we have in our hearts today," Giovani Dos Santos said. "This is a huge step for us in the process."

That process had included no progress this decade when the United States hosted its southern rival. The Mexicans were 0-9-2 since a March 1999 victory at San Diego.

They snapped that victory drought before a capacity crowd of 79,156 overwhelmingly pro-Mexican fans yesterday by scoring all their goals in the second half.

Captain Gerardo Torrado started the blitz with a penalty kick in the 56th minute. Dos Santos, Carlos Vela and Jose Antonio Castro also connected against a sieve-like U.S defense. The four goals came in a span of 23 minutes, and Guillermo Franco ended the romp in the 90th.

"We were chasing the game a lot in the second half, and it tired us out," said U.S. forward Brian Ching of Hawai'i. "Look at anybody in the United States and this loss has to anger you."

It was the worst U.S. home loss since a 5-0 defeat against England on June 16, 1985.

The United States fielded an inexperienced squad after the top team finished second in the Confederations Cup last month.

NFL

RAVENS WR BENNETT RETIRES

Ravens wide receiver Drew Bennett has announced his retirement, just two days after signing with Baltimore in an effort to rekindle his NFL career.

Bennett agreed to a one-year deal after a tryout on Friday. But he aggravated an old knee injury during the workout, and after returning home to Nashville, Tenn., the 30-year-old receiver decided to quit.

BASEBALL

UW EXPECTED TO HIRE MEGGS

Lindsey Meggs of Indiana State is expected to be named the new head baseball coach at the University of Washington, the Seattle Times reported.

Hawai'i's Mike Trapasso had been a candidate for the position. Trapasso said he took his name out of consideration Friday.

Meggs is 77-79 in three years with the Sycamores and was the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year after taking the team to a 33-21 record in 2009. He is a UCLA graduate and coached for 13 years at Cal-State Chico.

BOXING

EX-CHAMP FORREST KILLED IN GEORGIA

Police said former boxing champion Vernon Forrest has been shot and killed in an apparent robbery.

Atlanta Police Sgt. Lisa Keyes said in an e-mail yesterday that Forrest may have been robbed and was shot "multiple times in the back" Saturday night in Atlanta. Keyes says there are no suspects.

Forrest, a native of Augusta, Ga., who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the 1992 Olympic team. He was also a former WBC super welterweight champion.

The 38-year-old took two wins over Sugar Shane Mosley in 2002. On Sept. 13, 2008, Forrest reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title by beating Sergio Mora.

TENNIS

GINEPRI WINS INDIANAPOLIS TITLE

Unseeded Robby Ginepri won his third career ATP Tour singles title, beating fellow American Sam Querrey, 6-2, 6-4, yesterday in the Indianapolis Tennis Championships.

Ginepri, 26, last won an ATP title in 2005, when he also captured the Indy championship.