Mexico successfully defended their Gold Cup title, winning the 2011 edition of the tournament on Saturday in Pasadena. As CONCACAF champions, they advance to the Confederations Cup to be held in Brazil in 2013.
In front of a packed Rose Bowl, the United States got a quick start. Michael Bradley scored in the 8th minute from a Freddy Adu corner. USA coach Bob Bradley put Adu and Landon Donovan into the starting eleven after both players had super sub performances in the semifinal. It was Donovan’s turn in the 23rd, picking up a pass from Clint Dempsey in the box and making it 2-0 USA in the 23rd minute. Mexico answered back six minutes later when Pablo Barrera scored. The score was level through an Andres Guardado goal in the 36th minute. Mexico took the lead five minutes into the second-half when Barrera scored his second. It was 4-2 Mexico when Giovani Dos Santos scored in the 76th minute.
Both teams were forced to substitute early. USA defender Steve Cherundolo was injured in the 11th minute, with Jonathan Bornstein replacing him in the US back line. Mexico used a sub for a tactical adjustment in the 28th minute and were then forced to use another when Rafa Marquez was injured in the 43rd minute.
“You walk away on a night like this and nobody has a good feeling in their mouth so it’s part of being a competitor,” USA midfielder Michael Bradley said. “Nights like this you leave everything you have on the field and at times it doesn’t go your way but it only motivates you more to work harder, to get better, to know what we need to bring on nights like this when things are at the absolute highest level. It’s not a nice feeling, but having said that we’ll be back. I know that.”
— GAME REPORT —
Match: USA vs. Mexico
Date: June 25, 2011
Competition: CONCACAF Gold Cup – Final
Venue: Rose Bowl – Pasadena, Calif.
Kickoff: 4 p.m. PT
Attendance: 93,420
Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 0 2
MEX 2 2 4
USA – Michael Bradley (Freddy Adu) 8th minute
USA – Landon Donovan (Clint Dempsey) 23
MEX – Pablo Barrera (Javier Hernández) 29
MEX – Andrés Guardado 36
MEX – Pablo Barrera (Andrés Guardado) 50
MEX – Giovani dos Santos 76
Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo (12-Jonathan Bornstein, 11), 21-Clarence Goodson, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), 14-Eric Lichaj; 4-Michael Bradley, 13-Jermaine Jones; 22-Alejandro Bedoya (9-Juan Agudelo, 63), 20-Freddy Adu (16-Sacha Kljestan, 86), 8-Clint Dempsey; 10-Landon Donovan
Subs not used: 2-Jonathan Spector, 7-Maurice Edu, 15-Tim Ream, 23-Marcus Hahnemann
Head Coach: Bob Bradley
MEX: 12-Alfredo Talavera; 16-Efraín Juárez, 15-Héctor Moreno, 4-Rafa Márquez (capt.) (2- Héctor Reynoso, 43), 3-Carlos Salcido (20-Jorge Torres Nilo, 28); 6-Gerardo Torrado, 8-Israel Castro, 18-Andrés Guardado, 7-Pablo Barrera (13-Jesus Zavala, 75), 10-Giovani dos Santos; 14-Javier Hernández
Subs not used: 9-Aldo de Nigris, 11-Angel Reyna, 17-Paul Aguilar, 23-Jonathan Orozco
Head coach: Jose Manuel de la Torre
Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 13 / 17
Shots on Goal: 3 / 8
Saves: 4 / 1
Corner Kicks: 3 / 5
Fouls: 19 / 10
Offside: 0 / 7
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Landon Donovan (caution) 33rd minute
MEX – Jorge Torres Nilo (caution) 81
USA – Clint Dempsey (caution) 87
USA – Jermaine Jones (caution) 90+1
Officials:
Referee: Joel Aguilar (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: Hector Vergara (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: William Torres (SLV)
Fourth Official: Walter Lopez (GUA)
