World Cup 2006 Blog |  |
| Gold Cup Final is Set: US vs. Mexico. Again. Posted: 24 Jul 2009 11:40 AM PDT 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.) 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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