Gold Cup Final 26/Jul/09

USA v. Mexico 0-5



In what appears to be another one of those memorable clashes, Mexico crushed a young American team in the final of the Gold Cup to earn their fifth, making them the most successful team in the history of the tournament. If the perennial and ubiquitous date of the 12th of August- now more used as a commercial motto than a real football date- should sound near enough, Mexico again faces the troubled question of facing the 'A' team of the US.
Although this may be asserted that the reactions among Mexican media, particularly the two rival broadcasters, were over-passionate, exaggerated and . Even though this win is in a rather different context than the one that would be the most appropriate for a revenge from the 2002 World Cup exit the fact that a five goal gap against a senior US team, taking into account the context of the last matches against the northern team, is nothing strange to highlight.
It is imperative that this win should not be taken as a push to the next match but as a step. Next 12th will be a completely different context. Yes, with advantages to the Mexicans but with the most deadly team that Bradley could assemble to counter the defeat of today.

Bradley, in the post-match interview, was visibly angry and above all, frustrated. Particularly one comment showed his annoyance against the defeat: that loosing two titles in one month is by far a 'lesson to learn.' It is obvious the irritation this commentaries bring, and the Mexican people should look after this particular attitudes; Bradley and his senior team will come with everything they have in order to zest another powerful punch on Mexican ego. The result of that will come next 12th and as always, we will have full coverage of the matter.







Both teams, in whichever perspective the reader look, struggled against their current rivals to reach the destined date. And both, more Mexico than the US, soared in level, particularly the Spanish speaking country (regarding the infamous incident against Panama). With the prospect of another revisiting of the rivalry between the two powers of the zone the match started really tough. For extended periods both teams struggled physically for possession to the utmost of stances. The match turned quite even reaching the 20th minute, the Americans having twice arrived through corners and the opposition through rapid, fast two-touch passes. Holden was the most dangerous threat for Magallón's defence, with one wide opportunity at 28th. Beckerman wide shots proved to be a constant despite being wide off the mark in all occasions. While both sides exchanged possession at will it was the Mexican team, that had posed with the last couple chances a real threat.







The outrageous score came after the first ten minutes of the second half: Giovanni again, was thumbled and Torrado executed from the spot to give the visitors the lead. Before that it was Rogers shot over the bar the moment that the Americans were closest. In order to attack more, the American full-backs simply step forward leaving huge gaps between both the midfield and defence. Obviously the man who revolutionised the game was young Gunner Carlos Vela, playing wide in the left. In one of those counterattacks, Vela set Castro who failing to score found Giovanni in the rebound, extending the gap for the Mexican side. American keeper Perkins could not see the end of his misery when five minutes later Giovanni released Vela, who stroke the ball in his Sheffield United-chip style.
Even as if it were not enough the Americans looked overpowered against such quick, agile counter-attacks and the momentum obviously put the Mexican team with the opportunity to score the fourth, in which again Giovanni was involved, just that the scorer was Castro, two minutes from end. Heaps' frustration earned the young American a straight sent off after a violent collision with Vela. To sum things up, Franco scored the fifth.

Group B Matchday 3 12/Jul/09

Mexico v. Guadeloupe 2-0





Earlier in the day Panama trashed four-nil the weakest side in the group to qualify as the second-best third place (odd isn't it?). In the same group the "impressive" (to call it in some way) team from Guadaloupe faced in one of the dullest and less impressive games of the tournament, (again, in the plethora of boredom that CONCACAF can offer) to give both teams the qualification. Mexico improved in some way the dismal and languid displays shown in the two previous matches. Obviously someone in the highest ranks of the FEMEXFUT talked with the players to brake with the difficult tension that the ramble brought. In any case the expected final, yet again, would be between the US team and the Mexican team.

Tournament's quarterfinals ended in the following order:


Canada-Honduras (21.00 GMT)
EE.UU.-Panama (00.00 GMT)
Guadeloupe-Costa Rica (19.00 GMT)
México-Haití (22.00 GMT).







One would have expected the Guadeloupe squad (again it seems that I need a genitive dictionary) to show more heart or at least to contend in what appeared to be the weakest Mexican side in the history of the illustrious and flamboyant Gold Cup. Last time both sides clashed was in the same tournament two years ago, in the semifinals. In that game Pardo gave Mexico a lonesome goal deep in the match. It was expected that the Caribbean team offered at least some degree of resistance as that day but we were left rather with what the Mexican side failed to offer rather than what the Guadeloupeans did.

Instead Mexico initiated the game in a quite cheerful mood; a shot in the first minute by Medina and another by Esquivel in the 12th. The efforts made by the Caribbean side were deployed by Fluerival while for Mexico from Chivas striker Medina. The match went on as daft and numb as any Gold Cup assembly, with the Mexican team showing "the best display" made throughout the tournament. If that can tell you something of the horrid and dreary time I spent watching the futile attempts of Juárez to make a cross you could imagine the rest of the match. The lead, curiously enough, came three minutes before halftime when Torrado controlled another loose ball from Juárez and fired past Fausta to give Mexico the confidence needed to search for the second.







Guadeloupe pressed mainly because the absence of resistance in the first twenty minutes. The effort made by the Mexicans was by far the sparkless and graceless I have seen in ages (wait, the whole tournament if I am not wrong). Fausta denied in some occasions Bravo and Medina, with some bookings and substitutions amongst the highlights. As if it were a cameo of the first half, the second goal came after a corner dully defended by the Caribbeans, by Barrera, who set Sabah to give the "visitors" the safe passage to quarterfinals.

Group B Matchday 2 9/Jul/09

Mexico v. Panama 1-1



After the circus in which the national coach of the Mexican team was involved, Mexico rescued from scratch a draw which can be considered as a miracle, mainly because of the gruesome, not to say horrendous display that the national team offered. With appearances such as the one we looked at today one can think of the following encounters that the Mexican team will have in the World Cup qualifiers. The unassailable cloud of pessimism in the media is justified to some extent.
Obviously Aguirre will receive his ban hoping not to miss the clash against the United States. The World Cup ticket is not in danger and neither is Mexico's participation in the latter stages of the wretched tournament the Gold Cup is.







Fortunately the Mexican team began with the right foot: Giovanni set Sabah after an accurate counter-attack. The Monarcas striker scored past the Panama keeper and the sheet was one-nil up for the Mexicans. After the lead, the "home" side enjoyed a fair time of possession and chances, one which Sabah again could not finish. He lamented when Panama obtained the equaliser through Pachuca's Blaz Perez, in a set piece. From then until the end of the first half the Mexicans fail to accomplish any attempts and the personality shown by Giovanni was dissolved into thin air. The surprises of the following half were to be greater than they were in a final or a semifinal, in any case.







The actions were initiated and Omar Bravo's header, at the 53rd, was a reminder of the things to come. The "home" side offered many options especially with counter-attacks. Mexico's prowess, at the 61st minute, relied on strong attacking and pressure which was somehow adjusted in the midfield with Torrado taking all the load, which was shadowed at times by the great physical display the visitors.
As Mexico attacked desperately in order to grab a late winner, Phillips and Aguirre entered in a ramble, which was symbolised the mental functioning of the team. Obviously the childish rant from a manager against a player was one of the most despicable and deplorable circumstances yet faced by a Mexican manager on the pitch. Two sent offs and a largely disappointed crowd, who were throwing all kinds of flak from the stands, were the outcome of the torrid evening.
Phillips did not have any intention to leave the pitch as Aguirre was heading to the stands. In a moment I felt relieved and began to laugh at the clownish performance of a national coach which was at a party and a referee who did not have any authority neither towards himself nor the players. The fight took nearly 6 minutes to clear. Martinolli's narration described the whole succinctly as a "A Cabaret".
The outrageous yet obvious additional time was ten minutes. Eventually the match had to be suspended. The match ended in quite a terrible fashion, as the Central American players exit the field escorted by Police.