USA Upset in CONCACAF 2011 Gold Cup

If you weren't following, the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Tournament Final was yesterday. If this is foreign to you, Wikipedia describes it as an international "competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF," played to determine "the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Carribean."

CONCACAF = Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football

Yesterday, June 25th 2011, was the final between The United States and Mexico, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena California. In preperation for this event, I went out to purchase two of the newer US Men's National Soccer Team Jerseys for my brother (Kyle) and I to wear in support. We were sporting the "third" jersey, pictured below which is red with a blue stripe.

Unfortunately, and despite our faith and hope and jersey wearing, in the end Mexico won with a 4 - 2 victory of the US, coming back from a 2 goal deficit to score 4 goals and take the championship out from under the US team. It was a sad day for US Soccer fans with hopes and aspirations of winning ther Gold Cup. Yet, second place isn't all that bad, and I have to say that the US team played great and had several opportunities to tie the game up, but we just couldn't capitalize when those opportunities presented themselves.

If you have time and want to take in the breadth of the tournament in a quicker, trimmed down Youtube version, I have provided links to all the games below.

Game #1 - USA (2) - Canada (0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9bH5w9azb0&NR=1

Game #2 - USA (1) - Panama (2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzqyUVNawyw

Game #3 - USA (1) - Guadeloupe (0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSgii83h4nI

Quarter Final - Game #4 - USA (2) - Jamiaca (0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn0DMJuwS0w

SemiFinal - Game #5 - USA (2) - Panama (0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aaMNmzubcM

Final - Game #6 - USA (2) - Mexio (4)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRDYTm-Q2T4

Mexico Played a fine game and proved their worth and merit with a fabulous win against the United States, showing some creative resourcefulness, their mental fortitude, and some flat out brilliant skills with the goals they created. Well done.

I look forward to another great tournament in 2 more years.