USA 2-1 Mexico: United States Win The Gold Cup
Monday, 25 June 07, 05:38 AM · Comments(16)
The USA brushed Mexico aside to win the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2-1. For once the Mexicans were out of excuses, as the US deservedly won the match, even coming back from a goal down.
Previous USA-Mexico games had been accompanied by rigorous bouts of "we were the better team" from the Mexicans (only when they lost of course), and... truth be told... they were justified in many
of these claims. But last night the USA for once took the initative and were rewarded, although this was by no means an easy victory.
Although Andres Guardado and Nery Castillo were both incredibly dangerous on the day as individuals, Mexico never really looked cohesive enough as a team. The US were quite fluid and passed better, and as I said earlier, took the initative more. The Mexicans seemed to be playing as the US had for many of their previous encounters, closing down, trying to win the ball back and launch counter-attacks at every opportunity. The US for all their efforts, had gotten nothing, and they went into-half time even more under pressure after having gone a goal down in the 44th minute.
The lethargic, error-prone Onyewu was once again culpable. Having received the help of the officials in saving his face after gifting a wrongly disallowed equaliser to the Canadians, he failed to pick up the lurking Guardado, who poked the ball into the net to give the Mexicans the lead.
But the US came out strong and focussed in the second-half. Ricardo Clark replaced the dull Mastroeni, and did a great job hustling and bustling, and imposing himself on the midfield. To his credit, the misfiring Benny Feilhaber pulled himself together, and starting pinging passes around and running the show. Many US fans regard him as someone with the potential to be a genuinely top-class playmaker, something the team needs to complement the roaming wizardy of Landon Donovan. He is inconsistent though, but today he really shone, and capped his performance of with something really special (but more on that later).
The US got their reward in the 60th minute though. Brian Ching was tripped in the box, in what was a technically legitimate, but also very "soft" penalty. Ching had done nothing all game, and this
was his decisive contributon. Landon Donovan stepped up, and as he so often does, put the ball in the back of the net. 1-1 to the US.
And then came Feilhaber's coupe de grace. With just over 15 minutes left to go, a clearance looped up in the air and just out of the Mexican penalty area. Feilhaber was lurking outside,
and as the ball fell, he adjusted himself to deliver one of the most sweetly-struck, unstoppable volleys that you will ever see. It was an absolutely top class goal, and the kind that you dream you
will score as the winning goal in a cup-final.
And that was it really. It knocked the stuffing out of the Mexicans, and the US could have gone ahead further, but DaMarcus Beasley and Ching both hit the woodwork.
And that was that. 2-1, congratulations to the States. I suspect the Mexicans were saving themselves for the Copa America a little bit, but who knows, maybe there will be a re-match in a month's time (however unlikely that is). Cuauhtemoc Blanco gave a fair assessment of the game... that the US had deserved their victory, but the Mexicans had wasted whatever chances they had.
And here's Feilhaber's goal:
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And cruz, if you disagree with the report, please feel free to write your own... it's easy!
I need to clarify something here about 'them (Mexico) being out of excuses'. When interviewed directly after the match, Hugo stated that Ching had hold of Magallon's shirt, thus when he spun around it caused the penalty. And, if that was the correct call, then the ref should have blown the whistle when Pardo was knocked down in the box at the end of the game. No excuses, huh? Sounds like the same old story, as well as a manager who is definitely on the hot seat.
the only reason why usa won was becouse of the ref he wasnt calling the penalty for mexico and he was calling fouls in faver of usa
the fact is that mexico controled the whole first half and most of the seccond... usa is only good at couter attacs... the supposed penalty in favor of usa... shouldn't have been called because it
was not a penalty... seccondly, the seccond gol that usa scored was pure luck... just a matter of being in the right place at the right time... he could have just as easily missed... thirdly and most
importantly, the ref was an imbecil... if they would allow replay cams just as they do in north american footbal the score would have been 2-0, because the mentaly dificiant ref would have had a
chance to judge the match fairly... and finally... usa does not and will never reach the cuality of futbol that Mexico has.... any takers on responding my comment??? Im curious on what bull can be
said about the truth
Ill give it a couple of days for you all to think about it... get back to me... mabe SM has something smart to say!! but I doubt it... LOL
16 Comments · Add yours
Not a very smart report. "For once The Mexicans were out of Excuses." First all all the players never made excuses and second it sounds like you are including the whole nation. Hugo Sanchez had reasons or comments about the games, but NOT The Mexicans. Get it straight please. This is not a very professionla report.
I think that is more down to your understanding. It is pretty standard that when you are reading a football report, you are referring to football. This is not about politics, or economics, or war, it's abut a football match. The Yanks vs the Mexicans.
When you say "Mexico played well", you are not talking about the whole nation. When you say "Mexico scored an early goal", you are also not talking about the whole nation.