Once Mexico brought in their Arsenal star, Vela, the game completely changed. The US had no way of checking Vela let alone the combination of Vela and Dos Santos, the two Mexican stars that first burst on the scene in 2005 when he won the golden boot at the U17 World Cup where Vela led Mexico to the title, beating Brazil in the finals. Both players became hot property for the European big guns - Dos Santos heading to Barcelona and Vela being signed by Wenger. Clearly the Mexican team takes on a whole new dynamic with their European stars.
Vela demonstrated, what I hope he can replicate this season for the Gunners, an uncanny ability to take on defenders, displayed clinical passing, and chipped in with goals. The first 4 goals all had Vela's finger prints on - the second goal Vela completely exploited the left side of the pitch driving the ball into the box completely putting the US defense of their heels. Vela's goal was a nice give and go where he deftly flicked the ball over the US keeper. The fourth goal was a surgical diaganol pass allowing Castro to deftly beating the keeper. Whether it was threading a lethal pass, taking on defenders, or actually scoring the goal, the Arsenal man gave the US fits and the US clearly had no answers for him. The combination with Dos Santos was clearly one that the US could not match. So what to make of this match?
The US sent, as I had stated in a previous entry, their freshman team, this was not even the JV team...however a 5-0 drubbing at the international level is still an embarrassment. This was still an international final and against your heated rival from across the boarder, you would put up a greater fight that what was displayed in the second half. This tees up the upcoming World Cup qualifier in Mexico City where the scene will be very different. Both teams will bring in their Varsity teams...both teams will
be looking for the full 3 points.Mexico will expect to win. Playing at Azteca is not an enviable task for any team, least of all the despised USA who will be facing the 100,000 crazy fans in the stadium. In addition, Mexico will need to win. A victory will bring them to 9 points, 1 point behind second place USA, and will thrust Mexico back into the chase for South Africa. A Mexican draw or loss, would be devastating for their chances to get to South Africa. On the other hand, the US need to look for a result in Mexico. Not only would this make the 5-0 drubbing easier to digest, but after a very strange summer for US soccer - terrible start at the Confed Cup, followed by a rush after beating Spain, then disappointment after outplaying Brazil for 45 minutes, then a nice push to the Gold Cup finals only to end with 5 goals conceded....all the ups and downs would be palatable if the US can return home with a famous win at Azteca.
I doubt the Gold Cup loss will weigh negatively on the US, I think that they will use the 5-0 drubbing as motivation. They realize they did not bring their A Team, and the players will be highly motivated to win back the honor for the red white and blue. While Mexico will use the victory to propel them into the match against the US. They have finally secured a victory on US soil against the Americans. Mentally they must feel that world is starting to right itself, and being able to play at the Mexico City cauldron of the Azteca will only embolden the Mexicans even more to seek back to back victories against the US.
This should make for a great match...and one that counts. Looking forward to the August date!
A recap of the Gold Cup:
Final
| Date | Home team | Result/ | Away team | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 July | United States | 0 - 5 | Mexico | View events | More info |
Semi Final
| Date | Home team | Result/ | Away team | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 July | Honduras | 0 - 2 | United States | View events | More info |
| Costa Rica | 1 - 1 Pen 3 - 5 | Mexico | View events | More info |
Quarter Final
| Date | Home team | Result/ | Away team | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 July | Canada | 0 - 1 | Honduras | View events | More info |
| United States | 2 - 1 AET | Panama | View events | More info | |
| 19 July | Guadeloupe | 1 - 5 | Costa Rica | View events | More info |
| Mexico | 4 - 0 | Haiti | View events | More info |
Group Stage
| Date | Home team | Result/ | Away team | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 July | Canada | 1 - 0 | Jamaica | View events | More info |
| Costa Rica | 1 - 2 | El Salvador | View events | More info | |
| 4 July | Honduras | 1 - 0 | Haiti | View events | More info |
| Grenada | 0 - 4 | United States | View events | More info | |
| 5 July | Panama | 1 - 2 | Guadeloupe | View events | More info |
| Nicaragua | 0 - 2 | Mexico | View events | More info | |
| 7 July | Jamaica | 0 - 1 | Costa Rica | View events | More info |
| El Salvador | 0 - 1 | Canada | View events | More info | |
| 8 July | Haiti | 2 - 0 | Grenada | View events | More info |
| United States | 2 - 0 | Honduras | View events | More info | |
| 9 July | Guadeloupe | 2 - 0 | Nicaragua | View events | More info |
| Mexico | 1 - 1 | Panama | View events | More info | |
| 10 July | Costa Rica | 2 - 2 | Canada | View events | More info |
| El Salvador | 0 - 1 | Jamaica | View events | More info | |
| 11 July | United States | 2 - 2 | Haiti | View events | More info |
| Honduras | 4 - 0 | Grenada | View events | More info | |
| 12 July | Panama | 4 - 0 | Nicaragua | View events | More info |
| Mexico | 2 - 0 | Guadeloupe |
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