Gold Cup Nightly: Matchday 3, Group A

Tonight, I recalled that covering a match from the press box makes the time to write post match analysis shorter than when you watch at home from TV. The time normally spent at home typing and looking up stats instead becomes a frantic scramble for post game interviews and press conferences. Also my pledge to tweet every important moment from the press box took away alot of my best analysis. You can read all my tweets from during the game at Twitter.com/kkfla737 .

Jamaica 1-0 El Salvador

Omar Cummings goal gave the Reggae Boyz a chance of advancement into the next stage of the tournament and eliminated El Salavdor. The action was so frantic in the last few minutes, I left the comfort of the press area to venture into what was a frenzied and surprisingly good sized crowd despite ominous looking weather. What ensued after I, and two other reporters entered the actual stands was unreal. Chance after chance both ways with great saves, and outstanding open football. Two desperate teams looking for a goal. Up until the final whistle the electric atmosphere and back and forth football turned what has been a dour first 60 minutes into an unforgettable game of football.

After the match I caught up with Omar Cummings, of the Colorado Rapids and Jamaica. Here that interview, early next week on the MLS Talk Podcast.

Canada 2-2 Costa Rica

An enthralling game which you can read all my tweets from the FIU Stadium Pressbox at twitter.com/kkfla737

Walter Centano one of the legends of CONCACVAF continued his brilliance tonight with a beautiful free kick goal and some wonderful play in midfield. Canada’s team which swapped several regulars for backups was also sharp and resilient.

Canada wins group A. In the postmatch press conference, Coach Stephen Hart  indicated he was proud of his teams play but injuries forced him to make some substitutions he did not want to make. The Canadians do however now have six days off until the Quarterfinals. Coach Hart was most animated about the Artificial Turf at FIU Stadium and how it affected the game tonight.

Gold Cup Nightly: Group C, Matchday Two

Photo from CONCACAF.com

Mexico 1-Panama1

Gary Stempel’s job as Panama Coach was  very much on the line. The Panamanians have done very well in the last two Gold Cups but lost their opener to Guadeloupe and now face mighty Mexico. Javier Aguirre has already found himself under fire despite his outstanding club record in Spain after several lackluster performances to start his second tenure with El Tri.

So beleugured managers and a huge crowd at Reliant made it a tense affair.

El Tri playing with what we can call a B+ team (a number of young players but Gerrado Torrado and Gio Dos Santos are regulars, and Jonny Magallon plays often for the first team also) absorbed some Panamanian pressure early and scored on a fantastic counter attacking goal. Gio Dos Santos found Miguel Sabah for a clean finish to give Mexico an early lead.

But as has been the case in Mexico’s decline since Ricardo LaVolpe was sacked, El Tri couldn’t simply overwhelm an inferior Central American opponent. Panama continued to create chances and scored a great goal in the 29th minute.

But then the match turned chippy. Panama and Mexico both had players sent off in first half stoppage time and in the second half things really came undone.  Ricardo Phillips entered the game in the 76th minute for Panama and was sent off in minute 80. Phillips was sent off for shoving a Mexican coach after he had been hit by none other than Javier Aguirre.

FIFA has suspended managers for far less in the past and should Aguirre be on the sidelines anytime soon for El Tri, then we know justice has not been done.

The match itself was very exciting after it became 10 v 10 but the tomorrow’s papers in Mexico will be full of scorn for the officials because they “cheated” Mexico out of stoppage time. If anything, the officials who lost control of the match and allowed several Mexican players who persistently fouled to not be placed in the book helped El Tri.

Of more significance is the  continued struggles of Mexico against respectable Central American opposition.  Once upon a time Mexico would have nothing to fear from Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, etc. But these days more often than not El Tri struggles for results even against the lower tier of Central America, surely a worrying sign in Mexico.

As is the case in any match against regional opposition, El Tri’s players behave in unsportsmanlike  fashion and show little respect for the match officials. Now with the coaches joining that parade, CONCACAF needs to reign in Mexico before chaos ensues at every match involving El Tri.

Guadeloupe 2-0 Nicaragua

Guadeloupe’s fantastic Gold Cup record was put to the test against tournament newbie Nicaragua. The Central Americans looked formidable in the first half against Mexico before conceding a late, highly controversial penalty. But today Nicaragua was badly outplayed for the majority of the match.

Even after Michael Tacalfred 67th minute sending off, Guadeloupe’s ten men looked superior. But the Caribbean Islanders have struggled to convert the bulk of their chances in this tournament into goals and while they do have six points and are assured of passage to the knock out stages, their play in the final third must improve.

Roger Salnot must know that despite winning both games, Guadeloupe is not yet firing on all cylinders. This team has the talent to compete with anyone in CONCACAF except for possibly the USA. But they must improve their play in the final third to fulfill their potential in this tournament.

For Nicaragua, qualification itself was major accomplishment and while they have dropped both matches in this tournament, they have fought hard and demonstrated that Nicaraguan football is on the upswing.

IB Soccer Podcast

I had the pleasure of being on the IB Soccer show today live out of Colorado Springs. Give a listen if you have a free moment here.

Gold Cup Nightly: Group B, Matchday Two

Photo from CONCACAF.com

USA 2-0 Honduras

Postmatch coverage from Major League Soccer Talk

Haiti 2-0 Grenada

Coming into the 2007 Gold Cup and the 2010 World Cup cycle, Haitian football was supposed to be ready to breakthrough. Two years later, after Gold Cup and qualifying disappointments, we’re still waiting for Haiti to fulfill their promise. Perhaps tonight’s 2-0 win begins the process.

Haiti’s Fabrice Noel who plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders scored a good goal off a set piece to put the Spice Boyz on the defensive. The Haitians had lots of chances to expand the lead early but ultimately failed. Delroy Facey who plays his club football in England for Notts County had a golden chance to equalize but missed the target from point blank range.

The second half was very open with both sides creating half chances and pushing the tempo down the flanks. A combination of sloppy defending and bad giveaways contributed to the creation of half chances.

James Marcelin scored a great breakaway goal slotting it with a touch of class to extend the Haiti lead to 2-0. With Noel and Marcelin scoring the goals in this match yet playing more of a supporting role for USL’s Puerto Rico Islanders, it is no wonder that team advanced so far in the CONCACAF Champions League last season.

Ricky Charles had a good game for Grenada in the midfield helping to hold possession for much of the second half and create chances. But Grenada when it came down to it didn’t have the horses to compete in this tournament. A healthy Shalrie Joseph and Jason Roberts would have made a difference for sure.  Still they must be given credit for qualifying over Trinidad and Tobago who made the 2006 World Cup and is currently in the Hexagonal.

Gold Cup Nightly: Group A, Matchday Two

Photo From CONCACAF

Canada’s Gold Cup mastery continued with a 1-0 win over El Salvador. The Canadians who last made the Hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying in 1997, have generally been one of the most dangerous teams in this competition. Julian De  Guzman is making a strong case to be considered the best player  in this competition. He was far and away the best player in the 2007 tournament, and thus far this year you’d be hard pressed to find someone with as much class and skill. Ali Gerba scored his second goal of the tournament with a nice redirection of Patrice Bernier’s errand shot.

Gerba has now scored six goals in three Gold Cup competitions. While he has yet to explode in a single game the way Landon Donovan or DaMarcus Beasley have when playing Cuba, the new TFC and former Montreal Impact striker has to be now considered among the great attacking players in the history of this tournament.

Will Johnson also looked good in this game as did the reliable Atiba Hutchinson. Canada is looking strong going into the final group game in Miami versus Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 1  Jamaica 0

Jair Marufo struck at Crew Stadium again. Much like an earlier visit to Crew Stadium this year, the result of this match will be shrouded in controversy. Jamaica had controlled the match up until the 35th minute sending off by Marufo of Reggee Boyz midfielder Rodolph Austin on a frivolous call. Prior to that point Jamaica’s two US league based forwards, Omar Cummings and Nicholas Addlery had found themselves in good positions to score. But both Cummings and Addlery showed an inability to finish which has dogged the Reggee Boyz in the first two games of this tournament.

The LA Galaxy’s Donovan Ricketts had an excellent night in goal but was beaten by Cleso Borges who was completely unmarked in minute 64. Jamaica looked a spent force thanks to defending for so long with ten men yet the Ticos were so poor that they gave the opposition several chances in the last ten minutes to equalize. Despite being down a man for almost an hour Jamaica had as many shots as Costa Rica and almost equal possesion.

Costa Rica has struggled in the Gold Cup for years now. Part of the reason is with the tournament’s early stages always held on American soil, the Ticos are a victim of their nations political stability. Unlike other Central American countries that all have large exile or ex-pat communities in the USA, Costa Ric

Less Time, More Media

Less blogging than accustomed here thanks to more media appearances for me.

You can listen to me on this week’s United Mania podcast with Chris Webb, Mike Martin and Martin  here

I was also on this week’s La Galaxy sponsored show on ESPN 710 with Dave Denholm. Listen here.

You can also listen to the latest MLS Talk Podcast featuring an interview with Tiyi Shipalane of the Harrisburg City Islanders here.

My thoughts on Gooch’s huge move to Milan are here.

My interview with Last Minute Second Leg

In the fourth and final installment of our Part Deux Intervieux series, in which we have been following up with the experts we were able to call upon ahead of last month’s FIFA Confederations Cup, we’re joined once again by Kartik Krishnaiyer, host of the Major League Soccer Talk blog and podcast, as well as the blog The Kartik Report.

In a telephone interview, Krishnaiyer gave us his thoughts on the United States’s improbable success in the Confederations Cup, as well as what happens next for Bob Bradley’s side in both this month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and in the team’s remaining World Cup qualifying matches. He also discusses the, to say the least, problematic relationship between Landon Donovan and David Beckham, as highlighted in Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl’s upcoming book about Beckham’s failure to conquer America. Finally, Krishaiyer also gives his very spirited views on ESPN’s resurgent interest in buying television rights for football, and discusses whether or not the U.S. success at the Confederations Cup had anything to do with it.

Continue Reading

Gold Cup Nightly: Group C, Matchday One

Photo from CONCACAF.com

Mexico 2-0 Nicaragua

Nicaragua playing their first ever major tournament match gave a good account of themselves against a Mexican team that continues to underwhelm. El Tri was bailed out by an officiating error (a common theme when Mexico plays in CONCACAF matches)during first half stoppage time.

Still Javier Aguirre’s side who lost Carlos Vela early to injury and are without Guille Franco who has failed to turn up for the tournament looked lost despite playing against what could be called a semi professional set of players. Nicaragua were well organized at the back not only denying a goal in the run of play until the 86th minute but not allowing Mexico many real chances.

A year ago Mexico had a similarly embarrasing effort against Belize who has since been tossed out of FIFA. The uninspiring 2-0 win that day (also courtsey of a disputed penalty call) foretold a year of post 1982 lows for the Mexicans. Perhaps this effort tells us the next year will continue to be bad for Mexico our perhaps will serve as the bookend on a troubled year and give Aguirre some closure on the current set of failed players.

Panama 1-2 Guadeloupe

Panama under Gary Stempel has improved dramatically from a side that could not get out of the second round of World Cup qualifying to the winners of the Central American Championship. But today Stempel faced the unenviable task of going up against the Gold Cup squad with the most European based players.

When David Fleurival scored with a 35 yard or so shot, Guadeloupe looked in cruise control, dominating the match and leading 2-0 late in the first half.

But Panama applied lots of pressure and controlled the match from that point forward. Only some heroic goalkeeping by the experienced Marius Fausta as well as some poor finishing by Panama preserved the result for the French department.

But despite being under almost constant pressure, Guadeloupe’s pedigree of European based players whose previous experience in this tournament unluckily ended in the semifinals saw out the game. Panama’s 68th minute goal changed the game but still was not enough.

Gary Stempel can be proud of how his team fought and can take pride in the fact that Panama is setup well for the rest of the group stage.

Gold Cup Nightly: Group B, Matchday One

Grenada 0-4 USA

MLS Talk postmatch summary

Honduras 1-o Haiti

Haiti looked lively and active in the first part of the match. Honduras with the exception of a few core players basically has brought a B team to the Gold Cup while the European based players prepare for a new season or find new clubs. (Hendry Thomas for instance signed with Wigan this past week.)

Haiti qualified for the Gold Cup virtue of Cuba’s withdrawal. Thus not much was expected of them.

Haiti’s defense appeared well organized in the first half. Honduras really began to press forward after about minute 30 and controlled much of the action afterward.

The second half started as a stalemate. Haiti seemed determined not to press forward without sufficient cover at the back. This frustrated Honduras and chances in the run of play were limited. But a rare set piece opportunity led to the game’s lone goal by Carlo Costly one of the Honduras regulars playing.

Of interest to our readers, Fabrice Noel and James Marcelin of USL’s Puerto Rico Islanders both started and played well for Haiti. At the same time the Islanders without three players due to the Gold Cup struggled and drew with Miami FC 0-0 in Florida.

Honduras has traditionally not played well in the Gold Cup despite their football pedigree. But in 2005 they were unlucky against the USA controlling the match for about 80 minutes before Oguchi Onyewu and John O’Brien struck in rapid succession to lift the Americans into the Gold Cup final against Panama.

Gold Cup Nightly: Group A, Matchday One

Costa Rica 1  El Salvador 2

El Salvador came out flying in front of a partisan crowd at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Despite controlling the first stanza The Salvadorians had nothing to show for their performance until William Romero’s brilliant 20th minute goal scored at a high speed in from a tight angle.

Around minute 35 the Ticos began to assert themselves and soon thereafter Celso Borges hit the woodwork and was denied.

El Salvador had several chances early in the second half to open the scoreline up further but failed to convert their chances. Warren Granados then converted a beautiful goal when the El Salvadorian defense collapsed to equalize. But later Romero scored his second on counter attack and El Salvador had the win.

The re-emergence of Salvadorian football on the backs of home grown talent is remarkable. From being the lowest ranked CONCACAF nation in the January 2008 FIFA ranking from outside the Caribbean to the hexagonal and now a win in the Gold Cup it has been a metoirc rise. On the other hand the Ticos who lead the Hexagonal and are likely to qualify their third consecutive World Cup have now failed to win in their last six Gold cup matches dating back to the 2005 tournament.

Canada 1 Jamaica 0

• Jamaica came into this match riding high having not lost a competitive match in nine months.
• Greg Sutton may be without a club but he looked sharp for the Canadians. He made several key saves, most notably the 66th minute save on a Ricardo Fuller breakaway
• Canada held possession well for much of the game and seemed to deny Jamaica the ability to build its attack from midfield. Keep in mind Andy Williams is not playing in the Gold Cup due to his wife’s medical condition.
• Jamaica ended up relying on long balls throughout the first half but controlled the early portion of the second half building possession and creating chances.
• Ali Gerba’s goal on a pass from Mike Klukowski came against the run of play and was all Canada needed.
• Theodore Whitmore has lost his first competitive match as the manager following a run of eight wins without a loss in competitive matches under John Barnes. That included three consecutive World Cup qualifying wins (including a 3-0 win over Canada) and a 4-0-1 run in the Caribbean Qualifying tournament for the Gold Cup.