N/C CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013

Buffon · Jul 16, 2013

CAF Champions League meeting set to be moved

15 July 2013

The Egyptian FA has recommended that the CAF Champions League meeting between Zamalek and Al Ahly is moved amid security fears.

The two Egyptian clubs are due to meet in the continental competition on July 21, with the tie having originally been scheduled to be played in Cairo.

However, as political instability in the country continues and with armed protestors taking to the streets, the country's FA has now proposed switching the tie to El Gouna.

Reports suggest that the change has yet to be approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, Zamalek confirmed on their official website that they are now preparing to make the journey to El Gouna on Thursday ahead of the fixture.

Coach Osama Nabih added that the move was a "very difficult" decision, but "the perfect choice at the moment".

Zamalek and defending champions Al Ahly are both in Group A of the competition, along with AC Leopards of Congo and South African side Orlando Pirates.

Buffon · Jul 16, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Wrap: Trinidad and Tobago, El Salvador progress

16 July 2013

Trinidad and Tobago have qualified for the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup thanks to a 2-0 win over Honduras in Houston.

Honduras had already booked their place in the last eight thanks to wins in their first two matches but their quest to remain unbeaten took a hit seven minutes before the interval when right-back Jose David Velasquez was given his marching orders by referee Marco Rodriguez.

Trinidad and Tobago were able to make their numerical advantage count three minutes into the second-half on Monday, when Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones slotted home a penalty.

And Kevin Molino made sure of the win on 67 minutes, firing a shot past Kevin Hernandez in the Honduras goal.

The victory saw Trinidad and Tobago claim second place in Group B, having scored more goals than El Salvador, who booked their spot in the next phase as one of the two best third-placed teams thanks to a 1-0 victory over Haiti.

A 76th-minute penalty from Rodolfo Zelaya was all that separated the two sides, after the striker had already hit the woodwork twice in the first half.

Zelaya finally made the breakthrough late in the match from the spot, following a controversial decision from the assistant referee, who believed Mechack Jerome had fouled substitute Rafael Burgos.

Despite seeing his spot-kick well saved by Frandy Montrevil, Zelaya tucked in the rebound to make it 1-0.

That was where the scoreline stayed and El Salvador's four points were enough to make them the best-performed of the tournament's third-placed sides, sending them into the quarter-finals.

Buffon · Jul 17, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Wrap: Injury-time goal sends Cuba through

17 July 2013

Cuba have earned a passage through to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals in thrilling fashion, with a 4-0 win over Belize.

Walter Benitez's men needed something special to win by four goals and depose Martinique as one of the top-two best third-placed sides in the group stages but produced the goods in dramatic fashion at Rentschler Field in Connecticut on Tuesday.

An Ariel Martinez hat-trick set up a grandstand finish and, although they were denied by the offside flag in the first minute of injury time, the Cubans advanced to the final eight when Yenier Molina tucked away the decisive goal 60 seconds later.

It was Cuba's first win in 14 matches at the continental competition.

Earlier, Martinez dominated the Belize defence with his lethal left boot.

The 27-year-old winger's first goal in the 38th minute was a low strike into the bottom left corner of Belize's net.

Despite entering the half-time interval well short of their required four-goal margin, there was renewed hope in the 62nd minute when Martinez fired high past Belize's goalkeeper Woodrow West from close range after dancing past three defenders.

But still the odds were against Cuba as they entered the final 10 minutes needing two goals to earn progression to the final eight.

They benefitted from the dismissal of Belize defender Ian Gaynair in the 81st minute and Martinez made the Central Americans pay shortly after.

Martinez completed his treble with a right-footed shot from close range after a poor turnover in Belize's defence.

Cuba then thought they had the goal they so desperately desired in the closing stages but it was incorrectly ruled out for offside.

However, with less than a minute to play, Martinez crossed to the back post to find Liban Perez, whose header back across the face found Molina, who tucked home the goal to spark wild celebrations.

It ensured Cuba finished in third place in Group C on three points - with an identical record with Group A's third placegetter Martinique, although the Cubans scored more goals in their three group games to clinch a quarter-finals berth.

In the other match at Rentschler Field, the United States sealed top spot in Group C with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica.

With both sides already qualified for the quarter-finals, the result was academic but the tournament hosts became the only team to enter the knockout stages with three wins from three after Brek Shea's 82nd-minute goal, which was set up by a sublime pass from Landon Donovan.

Buffon · Jul 19, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Preview: Mexico v Trinidad & Tobago

17 July 2013

Mexico's bid for a third-straight CONCACAF Gold Cup success will continue when they take on Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday.

The sides will meet in the quarter-finals of the 2013 edition of the international tournament - hosted by the United States - having both finished second in their respective groups.

Mexico suffered a shock defeat to Panama in their opening game, but went on to beat Canada and Martinique in order to safely emerge from Group A.

And coach Jose Manuel de la Torre has admitted his team will need to improve in the next round.

"We have to keep working to find the answer to win the Gold Cup," he said.

"So, pressure or no pressure, that’s the way it is. That’s the way it is with the Mexican national team. You have to understand that and know that."

Trinidad & Tobago, meanwhile, drew with El Salvador, lost to Haiti and beat Honduras on their way to progressing from Group B.

De la Torre's side have three goals from Guadalajara midfielder Marco Fabian to thank for their place in the last eight, while two-goal Stoke forward Kenwyne Jones is his country's top marksman.

Mexico are aiming for a seventh victory in the CONCACAF Gold Cup having already won it three times more than nearest rival the United States.

Their next opponent's best performance in the tournament came in 2000, when they shared third place with Peru after Mexico had exited at the last-eight stage.

These two teams last met in a World Cup qualifying match in October 2009 and shared a 2-2 draw at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

Buffon · Jul 19, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Preview: Last-gasp Cuba meet in-form Panama

19 July 2013

Cuba will look to maintain momentum going in their CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final after their last-minute qualification.

Walter Benitez's men only made it through to the last-eight meeting with Panama thanks to a stoppage-time goal, which meant they went through as the second-best third-placed side in the group stages.

Following their 4-0 win over Belize, which saw Ariel Martinez score a hat-trick before Jeniel Marquez grabbed the all-important goal, Benitez declared the victory "a great achievement" and "like winning the World Cup".

The quarter-final will be Cuba's first since 2003, when they were beaten 5-0 by the USA, and Benitez's men are likely to face a tough challenge when they meet group A winners Panama.

Julio Dely Valdes' side are unbeaten in the competition so far, winning two and drawing one of their games, conceding just one goal in the process.

After seeing off Mexico and Martinique, Panama drew a blank against Canada, knocking Antonio Fonseca's side out of the competition.

Dely Valdes said after the draw that he felt his team's fitness would be crucial to their overall chances.

"A rested team in these short tournaments is very important. It can be a determining factor on the field," he told the CONCACAF website.

He will be looking for joint-second-top scorer Gabriel Torres to continue his good form in the tournament so far.

Torres is level on goals with Cuba's Martinez and is the only member of his side to score at the competition.

The two countries have met 11 times in total, with Panama being victorious on six occasions and the sides' only previous Gold Cup meeting ending in a draw.

The winners of the last-eight tie will meet either Mexico or Trindad and Tobago in the semi-finals.

Buffon · Jul 19, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Preview: Costa Rica boss eager for Honduras clash

19 July 2013

Costa Rica manager Jorge Luis Pinto cannot wait for his side's CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final against Honduras on Sunday.

Both sides have lost once and won twice in their opening three Gold Cup fixtures, with Costa Rica missing out on a 100 per cent group C record following their defeat against the USA on Tuesday.

However, despite the loss against the Americans following a late Brek Shea goal, Pinto was pleased with his side's efforts.

"We feel that we played very well," he told the CONCACAF website.

"We’re going to continue to improve on what we're doing. I'm happy that collectively we improved our game and we have been able to do things better."

He also told of his excitement at facing rivals Honduras in the quarter-finals.

"I always love playing Honduras. They're always tough games. All we have to do is play with the mentality that we always have and hopefully it will put us through.

"One of the things I always say is that Honduras-Costa Rica is always a type of derby. We expect a great game."

Prior to the defeat against America, Costa Rica had gone 785 minutes without conceding, helping them to victories over Cuba and Belize, finishing in second and three points clear of Cuba as a result.

Honduras on the other hand have been more clinical in their matches, if slightly less lethal than Costa Rica in front of goal.

Three goals have been enough to secure them wins against Haiti and El Salvador, while they conceded their first goals of the competition against Trinidad and Tobago in their last game, losing 2-0.

In the 54 games that the two sides have played one another, Honduras have taken 19 wins while Costa Rica have 22, suggesting that the fixture could go either way.

One man who is likely to have a say in the result is Costa Rica's Michael Barrantes Rojas, who is joint-third-highest goalscorer in the competition with two.

Buffon · Jul 20, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Preview: USA, El Salvador battle for semi-final spot

20 July 2013

USA will be looking to take another step towards their fifth CONCACAF Gold Cup crown when they face El Salvador in the last eight on Sunday.

Jurgen Klinsmann's men have yet to lose a game in this year's competition and go into the clash with Agustin Castillo's side as heavy favourites.

El Salvador qualified for the last eight as one of the two best third-place sides and will be largely unfancied against a USA team that boasts the tournament's top scorer in Chris Wondolowski.

San Jose forward Wondolowski has five goals to his name, but El Salvador have their own talisman in the form of attacker Rodolfo Zelaya, who has netted three times so far in the competition.

Despite USA's 100 per cent record, which was ensured by Brek Shea's late winner against Costa Rica, Klinsmann has opted to make four changes to his squad ahead of the meeting at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore.

Two of the changes have been enforced because of injury, with defender Oguchi Onyewu continuing to feel the effects of an ankle sprain picked up in the 4-1 win over Belize on July 13, and attacker Herculez Gomez struggling with a knee problem.

Defender Corey Ashe and forward Jack McInerney also depart, with Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Alan Gordon and Eddie Johnson coming in as USA set their sights on the semi-finals.

El Salvador have endured a frenetic tournament; they surrendered a 2-1 lead and were left to settle for a point in their opening Group B match with Trinidad and Tobago, and lost 1-0 to Honduras in their second outing.

However, they secured their qualification for the quarter-finals by virtue of a slender win over Haiti on Tuesday, Zelaya scoring in the 76th minute.

Castillo's men will know that history is against them heading into Sunday's encounter as they have not gone further than the quarter-finals under the competition's current guise, and will need to produce their best performance of the tournament if they are to change that record.

Buffon · Jul 20, 2013

jixiaolan · Jul 20, 2013

Only USA has the quality to win this year Gold Cup as Mexico is missing several key players.

Buffon · Jul 23, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Wrap: Panama storm into semis
21 July 2013

Panama have powered into the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 6-1 demolition of Cuba, while Mexico also reached the final four.

Mexico, who have won the past two Gold Cups, had to wait until the final 10 minutes to score the decisive goal in their 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago but the reigning champions' next opponents, Panama, had a much easier time of it on Saturday.

Despite going behind in the 21st minute following a fine strike from Cuban forward Jose Ciprian Alfonso, Panama cruised to victory at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, edging ahead 2-1 at half-time before scoring four times in the final 22 minutes to wrap up a comfortable win.

The victory ensured Panama qualified for the Gold Cup semi-finals for the second tournament in a row and their head coach Julio Dely Valdes had American-based striker Blas Perez to thank for the triumph after the 32-year-old scored twice and set up a third goal.

Cuba only held onto their lead for four minutes in Atlanta before Panama equalised from the penalty spot.

A Cuban defender was judged to have blocked a shot with his hand in the penalty area and Gabriel Torres stepped up and dispatched the spot kick.

In the 37th minute, Panama went ahead after Perez headed the ball down to Torres, who thrashed his shot past Cuban goalkeeper Odel Molina.

Cuba's hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow 13 minutes after half-time when Ariel Martinez was sent off for lashing out with his foot at Perez and Panama increased the islanders' pain in the 68th minute thanks to a goal from Carlos Rodriguez.

Perez made it 4-1 with 12 minutes remaining when he converted a one-on-one opportunity past Molina, before Jairo Jimenez added Panama's fifth goal in the 85th minute with a shot that squeezed in at the near post.

Panama completed the rout three minutes later when Perez tapped home the rebound after Molina had palmed a powerful shot from Jimenez into the FC Dallas striker's path.

In the second game at the Georgia Dome, Mexico dominated Trinidad and Tobago with 61 percent possession and 17 shots to 10, but the two-time reigning champions did not break down their Caribbean opposition until the 84th minute.

Miguel Layun's cross from the right wing found Raul Jimenez at the near post and the 22-year-old striker threaded his first-time shot across Trinidad and Tobago's goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams and into the bottom corner to give Mexico victory.

Mexico will take on Panama in their semi-final on Wednesday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Buffon · Jul 23, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Wrap: USA thump El Salvador
22 July 2013

The United States will face Honduras in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals after the pair recorded contrasting wins on Sunday.

Juergen Klinsmann's USA side cruised past El Salvador 5-1 in their quarter-final at M&T Bank Stadium before Honduras edged out Costa Rica 1-0.

Landon Donovan scored and provided three assists for the USA, while Clarence Goodson, Joe Corona, Eddie Johnson and Mikkel Diskerud were also on the scoresheet.

The USA, favourites to win the tournament in front of their home fans, were lucky not to have conceded a penalty early against El Salvador after Goodson appeared to handle in the area.

And it was Goodson who opened the scoring in the 21st minute, putting away a Donovan cutback.

Nick Rimando pulled off a fine double save to keep the USA ahead soon after before the hosts made it 2-0 through Corona, who finished well into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Donovan should have made it 3-0 on the half-hour but he tried to be too clever with a chipped finish in a one-on-one with Dagoberto Portillo.

Klinsmann's men were dominant and impressed with some neat interplay in the attacking third.

They were made to pay for failing to take their chances when Rodolfo Zelaya was brought down in the area by DaMarcus Beasley after a mazy run.

Zelaya stepped up, producing a delightful 'Panenka' penalty as Rimando dived to his left in the 39th minute.

The tricky Zelaya was a constant threat for El Salvador before the USA restored their two-goal lead with Johnson heading in a Donovan corner on the hour-mark.

The USA took the direct route for their fourth as Johnson flicked on a Rimando clearance and Donovan raced clear, rounded Portillo and finished into an open goal.

Donovan's smart cross set up Diskerud for a fifth in the 83rd minute as the USA rounded out a huge win.

In the day's other game, Honduras moved into the last four thanks to Andy Najar's 49th-minute goal against Costa Rica.

Najar beat his marker to head in an Alexander Lopez cross and that was enough for Luis Suarez's side.

Buffon · Jul 23, 2013

SEMI FINALS

Buffon · Jul 24, 2013

U.S. MNT Ready for CONCACAF Gold Cup Semifinal Against Honduras in Arlington, Texas

The U.S. Men's National Team kicks against Honduras in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Wednesday, July 24, at 7 p.m. ET at Cowboys Stadium, live on FOX Soccer and Univision.

July 23, 2013

IN THE IMAGE: Eddie Johnson provided a goal-scoring spark off the bench in the quarterfinal match against El Salvador.

2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup
U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Honduras
Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, Texas
July 24, 2013

SEMIFINAL SHOWDOWN LOOMS AGAINST HONDURAS: After a thorough 5-1 rout of El Salvador to open the knockout phase, the USA’s quest for its fifth Gold Cup title heads to Texas for the semifinal showdown against Honduras. Kickoff from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is set for 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on FOX Soccer, UniMas and the Univision Deportes Network. (Watch at Official U.S. Soccer Bars) Fans can follow the match live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and via Twitter @ussoccer.

Honduras reached the semifinal stage with a 1-0 victory against Costa Rica on a goal from former D.C. United midfielder Andy Najar. In the other semifinal, Panama faces Mexico in a rematch of the first game of Group A in which Panama prevailed in a 2-1 win.

TOP SIX NOTES

This is the third meeting between the USA and Honduras in a Gold Cup semifinal. The USA walked away with a 2-1 win in 2005, and in the 2009 event Clarence Goodson scored his first goal for the MNT and notched the game-winner in the 2-0 victory.
The win against El Salvador extended the USA’s winning streak to a team-record nine games. The MNT improved its record this year to 10-2-2, and 9-1-1 in games played in the U.S.
The five goals also upped the USA’s total for the tournament to 16, the most scored in a CONCACAF Gold Cup by a U.S. team, beating its previous high of 13 scored in 2003 (accomplished in five games) and in 2007 (six games). It’s also the third-highest total in tournament history. Mexico scored 28 in 1993 and 22 in 2011.
The USA has now advanced to the semifinal of the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the seventh consecutive time, and 11 times out of 12 total confederation championships in this region.
Chris Wondolowski leads the tournament in scoring with five goals. That is also the most any U.S. player has scored in a single Gold Cup.
With the World Cup less than a year away, the mix of veterans and younger players are hoping the Gold Cup will prove to be a launching point for a spot in World Cup Qualifying and ultimately Brazil in 2014. (From Gold Cup to World Cup?)

Buffon · Jul 27, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Wrap: USA, Panama to meet in final
25 July 2013

Landon Donovan and Alejandro Bedoya have led the United States to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final after a 3-1 win over Honduras.

Donovan scored either side of half-time for the USA thanks to passes from Bedoya, while the former also set up Eddie Johnson's opener at Cowboys Stadium.

Honduras made it 2-1 seven minutes into the second half on Wednesday when Nery Medina sent a thumping header past USA goalkeeper Nick Rimando but Donovan hit back immediately to clinch victory for the hosts.

But the USA may be without head coach Juergen Klinsmann for Sunday's Gold Cup final after the former German striker was sent to the stands with three minutes remaining against Honduras.

Klinsmann reacted angrily to a hard challenge on American full-back DaMarcus Beasley and referee Walter Quesada banished him from the bench, however CONCACAF have yet to rule on whether the USA's head coach will be suspended from the final.

Johnson gave the USA the lead in the 11th minute in Arlington, Texas, with the Seattle Sounders striker bursting onto Donovan's sharp pass, before finishing from just inside the area.

Donovan made it 2-0 on 26 minutes when he chested down Bedoya's lobbed pass and then slotted the ball past Honduran goalkeeper Donis Escobar.

Honduras gave themselves a chance of a comeback with Medina's powerful header from Marvin Chavez's 52nd-minute corner, but when Donovan tapped in Bedoya's cut-back a minute later, the USA effectively wrapped up the win.

The USA, who have not won the Gold Cup since 2007, will face Panama in the tournament's decider after the Central Americans stunned Mexico 2-1 in the other semi-final at Cowboys Stadium.

Blas Perez opened the scoring for Panama in the 13th minute but the match was level at half-time after a diving header from Mexican midfielder Luis Montes on 25 minutes.

Panama had not reached a Gold Cup final since 2005 when they lost to the USA on penalties, but ended that drought thanks to Roman Torres' crunching header just after the hour mark, before holding on for a famous win.

Buffon · Jul 27, 2013

CONCACAF Gold Cup Preview: United States v Panama
27 July 2013

USA manager Juergen Klinsmann insists his side are "ready" to take on Panama in Sunday's CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

Klinsmann will lead his team out in the competition's showpiece with his side having put in a string of impressive performances so far.

They have won all five of their games, scoring 19 goals and conceding just four times to reach their fifth successive Gold Cup final.

Unsurprisingly, the USA are the top scorers in the competition with Chris Wondolowski and Landon Donovan joint first in the player stats along with Panama's Manuel Gabriel Torres

Klinsmann is delighted with his side's lethal form but is expecting a tough challenge from Julio Dely Valdes' side.

"It's going to be a nail-biter, it's going to be very tough and we're all prepared for that. I think the team can be proud of what they've done so far in this tournament," the 48-year-old said.

"The type of football that they've shown, the tempo they've played. But we are ready for it.

"We are very hungry for this Gold Cup and that's the way the players prove themselves on the field and also off the field when we are in camp."

Panama do not have a 100 per cent record in the competition, having been held 0-0 by Canada in the group stages but still boast some impressive form.

Thanks in part to Torres' five goals, they topped group A before hammering Cuba 6-1 in the quarter-finals.

They then beat holders Mexico for the second time in the competition to book a place in the final as they attempt to win their first Gold Cup.

Should the USA win on Sunday, it would be their fifth success, although Klinsmann may end up missing the match.

CONCACAF are yet to decide on a punishment after the German threw a ball in anger during the semi-final against Honduras following what he felt was persistent fouling of his players.

po2wq · Jul 27, 2013

show sum chio bu leh ...

Buffon · Jul 28, 2013

po2wq said:
show sum chio bu leh ...

Buffon · Jul 28, 2013

Jurgen Klinsmann suspended for Gold Cup final

By Zac Lee Rigg0

2013-07-27 12:45:00 AM

The U.S. coach will be banned during the Gold Cup final in Chicago on Sunday after a CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee decision.

The United States advanced to the 2013 Gold Cup final under the guidance of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. However, the German will not join his team on the sideline come Sunday, after the CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee suspended him for the final.

Referee Walter Quesada ejected Klinsmann in the final minutes of a 3-1 semifinal win over Honduras on Wednesday, and the region's Disciplinary Committee decided to levy a one-match ban.

"Mr. Klinsmann was ejected from the technical area for showing dissent towards the referee by throwing the ball in a violent manner during the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal match against Honduras on July 24, 2013, in Arlington, Texas," a release from CONCACAF read.

In the 87th minute of the match against Honduras, Klinsmann took umbrage with a two-man challenge on U.S. Gold Cup captain DaMarcus Beasley. By that point, two goals and an assist from Landon Donovan had assured passage to the final, where the U.S. national team will face Panama.

"It was just a reaction out of frustration, because fouls have added up throughout the last half an hour," Klinsmann said. "One really bad one actually right after the goal and then came this foul from Bease with two guys coming into him from behind, and I just kind of over-boiled it."

He cannot appeal the one-game suspension.

"I apologize for that reaction," Klinsmann said. "It was not meant against the referee, against nobody, because you feel for the health of your player in that moment."

Klinsmann's assistants -- Martin Vasquez, Andreas Herzog and Kasey Keller -- will take charge on Sunday, in Chicago's Soldier Field.

The last time the United States faced Panama in the final, in 2005, then-coach Bruce Arena was suspended for his actions in the semifinal, coincidentally also against Honduras. Assistant coach Glenn Myernick oversaw a 3-1 win in penalty kicks after the match finished scoreless.

po2wq · Jul 28, 2013

Buffon said:
<IMG src="http://i1013.photobucket.com/albums/af259/footballer2017/Porristas/Clausura%202013%20Part1/liga-mx-clausura-2013-cheerleaders9.jpeg" width=120></IMG>

not any chio bu ... but chio bu fans @ tis tournamen la ...

Buffon · Jul 29, 2013

U.S. beat Panama to win Gold Cup title even without manager Jurgen Klinsmann

By Brooks Peck | Dirty Tackle

The United States beat Panama 1-0 to win their fifth CONCACAF Gold Cup title, giving them their first trophy under manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Even though he was forced to watch from the executive suite as he served a touchline ban during the final. With usual rivals Mexico getting knocked out in the semifinals, the USA rolled through the tournament without much trouble — extending a team record 11-match winning streak in the process.

As perfunctory as it may have seemed for the USA, it feels like the start of a positive new era for the team. Since they last won the Gold Cup in 2007, they suffered excruciating losses in three straight cup finals: succumbing to Brazil in the 2009 Confederations Cup final after taking a two-goal lead, then losing the 2009 Gold Cup final 5-0 to Mexico and the 2011 Gold Cup final again to Mexico, that by a slightly better score of 4-2.

Though Mexico's inner turmoil kept them from giving the U.S. a chance at another rematch, Panama proved to be a worthy adversary. They kept the match scoreless until Brek Shea tapped in his second career international goal (and second of the tournament) in the 68th minute and that proved to be the difference as the home side failed to finish any of their other chances.

As joyous as overcoming their cup final demons in spite of CONCACAF's controversial decision to ban Klinsmann was for the USA, the day was not without a sad note. In the 23rd minute, eminently likable midfielder and wellspring of positivity Stu Holden, who just returned to the team before the tournament after three knee surgeries that have eaten up the majority of the last two years of his burgeoning career, sprained his troublesome knee and had to be subbed out. When he sat on the bench before heading back to the dressing room to get examined, his show of crushing disappointment was instantly shared by all of the team's fans.

One of the most encouraging aspects of this tournament for the U.S. has been the depth they've displayed, though. Even on a roster without many of the team's top players, the fringe guys and young prospects proved they can come through when called upon. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando had an outstanding tournament, Eddie Johnson and Chris Wondolowski scored goals (which, not too long ago, was a rarity for any of the team's strikers), Alejandro Bedoya and Holden's replacement, Mix Diskerud played well in the midfield. And, of course, Landon Donovan tied it all together by coming off of his sabbatical from the sport and playing perhaps better than ever before in his career.

Yes, it's only the Gold Cup and there's still a year's worth of work to be done filled with ever changing peaks and valleys in form before the World Cup, but for once it's hard to complain about the state of the U.S. national team. And that's just about the highest praise a fan of any team can offer.

Now if Jurgen Klinsmann can just magically heal Stu Holden's knee, he might truly be a wizard.

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