Gold Cup Final is Set: US vs. Mexico. Again.
Anybody else have an overpowering sense of déjà vu? Feel like we’ve been here before?
First we have the USA beating Honduras, 2-0. Again. Just like in the group stages. And now they’ll go on to play… Oh, you’ll never guess!
Mexico. (I know, right? Shock.)
For the USA, the biggest difference from two years ago was that in 2007 the Gold Cup was their first tournament after an extremely disappointing 2006 World Cup. Team USA wanted to prove itself, so they called up the top guns. Landon Donovan played a big role, as did goalkeeper Tim Howard. (Forgotten how big this was? Check out the roster.)
This time the team had already proved themselves last month in the Confederations Cup by downing #1 team Spain and coming oh-so-close against Brazil in the final. Coach Bob Bradley has used the 2009 Gold Cup as a training experience for his B (or is it C?) team; it’s been a time to trot out some new faces to see who might deserve a look for the World Cup squad next year. (Stuart Holden, I believe he’s lookin’ at you. Did anybody else look at Holden’s inch-perfect corner last night that gave Clarence Goodson the goal and think, “Wow. No wonder Houston’s kind of sucked without you”?)
Troy Perkins, battling with Brad Guzan for the #2 keeper spot, had some nice, acrobatic saves, and in the end a tiring Honduras couldn’t overtake the US. Kenny Cooper came on late and provide an 90th-minute insurance goal, and USA moves on.
Over on the other side of the bracket, the Mexico-Costa Rica game had all drama everybody expected, including a near-brawl, a saved penalty, and late goals (88th minute for Mexico, with a 93rd minute equalizer for Costa Rica.) Extra time was scoreless, and Mexico finally took the match 5-3 on penalties after Guillermo Ochoa stopped a shot by Froylan Ledezma. (Costa Rica fans can’t be too upset with Ledezma, though, since he was the 93rd-minute goalscorer.)
Since there is nothing really at stake here but bragging rights (Confederations Cup berths are only given out in the year after World Cup), Mexico is also largely fielding a B side. So the two big questions will be:Which team has the better up-and-comers? And will Mexico be able to shed its jinx playing on American soil?)
We’ll find out on Sunday.
Final schedule:
Sunday, July 26 – New York (Giants Stadium) 3 p.m. EDT
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Comments
By Ken | July 24th, 2009 at 12:26 pm 
I’d say the US get an easy victory, even with a C team. Mexico does not convince me yet.
By Jose | July 24th, 2009 at 12:59 pm Jeez, they really need to look into splitting the Gold Cup a more evenly between CONCACAF… Still hold most of the tournament in the United States (best possible host), but it wouldn’t kill them to give a Central American country one of the group stages or give Mexico the semifinals + finals, now would it?
Posted from 
Dominican Republic
By no way joe | July 25th, 2009 at 11:55 pm in my opinion final score will be decided depending on Mexico’s performance because on the other side I don’t expect the usa to play any better or worse I know exactly what they will do. usa has a perfect working cattenacio style(don’t know what that means ask the Italians) so Mexico has to be precise with the passes because on the others side theres going to be a team who defends with 9 and waits for the the perfect chance to counter attack and score. Hopely Mexico has learn after many defeats how does team usa play soccer and can do something about it if not it will be a movie that I have seen many times before
By Lucio SANTILLAN | July 26th, 2009 at 1:43 pm OJALA KE GANE MIS MEXICANO
By Lucio SANTILLAN | July 26th, 2009 at 1:47 pm MEXICO RARARA PURO PINCHE MEXICANO FUCK LOZ PINCHEZ GRINGOZ KE ESTAN TODOZ PANOCHAZ
By EL MEXICANO | July 26th, 2009 at 3:37 pm RE: I’d say the US get an easy victory, even with a C team. Mexico does not convince me yet.
Easy? HAHAHAHA! 5-0!!!! That’s what happens when you bitches get all cocky! You are not the only giant in CONCACAF!! You can say all you want about the quality of the players in the US team, but the fact is that Mexico was in pretty bad shape, with a defense that seemed like swiss cheese and an attack scheme that lacked goal. But today, the team responded with heart and it worked. Fact is, the U.S. got cocky and underestimated Mexico… you now know you shouldn’t do that again! And guess what? We are not done yet!!!!! We are waiting in Azteca MOFOs! Bring Donovan and all those putos, nos los vamos a coger por el culo putos de mierda!!!! MEXICO!!! MEXICO!!!! MEXICO!!!! MEXICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By cheese | July 26th, 2009 at 7:12 pm @el mexicano
i really hate the kind of attitude you bring to the game. check out all the youtube videos and if its not a bunch of Europeans calling american football $h!t, its a bunch of mexico fans cussing like crazy in spanish. when we win we dont bring that to the game, and i think its such a poor show on your end that it disgraces your country and your football.
By EL MEXICANO | July 26th, 2009 at 11:22 pm Cheese, we wouldn’t react this way if YOUR FANS and YOUR PLAYERS (like Landon Donovan) wouldn’t take dishonorable attitudes. So, I really don’t care if you think it brings disgrace to my country and our football. If you think that when you win you don’t bring that to the game, then you really need to go to more games, watch more soccer, and watch more interviews with your players. Your players and your soccer wanted a rivalry with Mexico, fine, you got it! But don’t get all whiny when things get heated. We haven’t. If we lose, we don’t say more than words and we stay faithful to our team…. take your loss, move on, and keep supporting the US, that’s all. It’s just a sport and they are just words, but don’t point fingers and say you guys aren’t guilty of cussing at other fans. I too have seen the youtube videos and I see tons of you gringos cussing at all of us “Beaners,” and guess what? We don’t whine! It’s part of the sport, take it like a man!
By EL MEXICANO | July 26th, 2009 at 11:31 pm Cheese, check this link out and tell me if your fans are not getting extremely rude with the Mexican fans. This is a youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvprNp1X9h4
Don’t take a higher than thou attitude anymore. This proves you are wrong when you say that American fans don’t cuss or act rude. Just check the comments on the video. Again… it’s part of the passion of the sport… they are words, we are not beating or hurting fans or anything like that.
By jp2506 | July 27th, 2009 at 12:28 am By football (american) | August 4th, 2009 at 5:16 am Your blog helped me to know all about football. Thank u a lot.
Posted from 
India
By other mexican | August 12th, 2009 at 10:59 pm my dear cheese… ken… any comments?? did you saw the game?? hope you understand… for a next time just keep your mouth shut… 
it wasn´t easy… it wasn´t luck… our team just played enough to win…
Posted from 
Mexico
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