14-07-2005, 06:05
|
 |
Analogue Smoker
|
|
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 86329
Thanks: 15
Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts
|
|
|
Re: Gold Cup 14th July
excellent stuff from http://www.soccermamak.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=92129
Quote:
14 Jul 05 Gold Cup Mexico - Jamaica
Bafana stun Mexico as goal-fest goes Jamaica's way
Few expected much from heavily depleted invitees South Africa ahead of their 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup opener with holders and fast favourites Mexico. But Stuart Baxter's Bafana Bafana put in a masterful performance in a 2-1 win at a wildly pro-Mexico Home Depot Center in Los Angeles to race to the top of Group C. Jamaica also earned a victory in their first match as they edged Guatemala 4-3 despite the best efforts of Carlos Ruiz.
Fears of a hangover after their recent heroics at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany proved justified as Mexico found themselves 2-0 down after 45 minutes in their Gold Cup opener.
Spending the first 25 minutes wasting chance after chance, some confusion at the back saw the holders a goal down in minute 28. Just seconds after Rafael Marquez Lugo slammed off the post, a corner kick from the impressive Siyabonga Nomvete - whose pace and invention troubled El Tri all night long - picked out Philip Evans unmarked at the back post. The fullback, who only obtained his visa to travel to the States at the eleventh hour, made no mistake as he headed in his first international goal off the upright.
Led by stand-in captain and Confed Cup hero Jared Borgetti, the Mexicans tried desperately to find an equaliser. But a quick counter-attack doubled their woes as Elrio Van Heerden of FC Copenhagen stretched out to poke home at the back post and double the Africans' lead just before the break.
The second half saw more frenzied Mexican attacking, as the holders hunted a foothold in the match - the first of coach Ricardo Lavolpe's reign against an African opponent. With 25 minutes to go Alberto Medina slammed off the post again and it soon became clear it was not to be Mexico's night.
But with eight minutes to go before the final whistle, Francisco Rodriguez's snapped header at the near post cut into the South African lead to set up a tense finish. However, it was all too late for the North American giants, as South Africa - expected merely to make up the numbers after a string of late pullouts - proved their panache in a rampaging opening performance.
"A win like this over a team as established as Mexico gives us real hope that we can pull off a good result in the Gold Cup," Baxter remarked after the match.
The loss was Mexico's first at a CONCACAF Gold Cup since 2002 and only their fourth in the competition's history.
Quick off the blocks, Jamaica hang on
Recently crowned Caribbean champions Jamaica wasted no time in making their intentions known against Guatemala in the evening's second match. With only two minutes gone, Luton Shelton bundled the ball in to give the Reggae Boyz an early lead. And in the fourth minute, Ricardo Fuller took advantage of a howler from the Guatemalan goalkeeper to make it two.
A pair of goals down with just four minutes gone, it was always going to be a long night for Ramon Maradiaga's Central American side. But MLS-based marksman Carlos Ruiz did his all to pull his side back from the brink.
After a hard foul in the area, 'El Pescadito' stepped up to cut the lead in half with a calmly taken spot kick. And just as they began to recover from their nightmare start, the Guatemalans suddenly found themselves with a man-advantage after Claude Davis saw red for a horror tackle.
But just before the break Andy Williams made no mistake with a spot kick of his own to give the Jamaicans a 3-1 lead.
Ruiz was right on his heels though, rising highest in the last action of the half to make it 3-2. The Jamaicans hung tough and made it 4-2 through Jermaine Hue ten minutes into the second period before one more goal from Ruiz completed an impressive hat-trick to give the Central Americans that sickening so-close-yet-so-far feeling.
2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup action continues on 9 July in Seattle where Costa Rica take on Cuba and the United States meet Canada in a North American classic. A win for the US or the Ticos would mean a place in the quarter-finals, as both won their openers.
|
Quote:
Borgetti steadies El Tri, Jamaica don't quit
After dropping their opener to South Africa, holders Mexico steadied the ship with a 4-0 trouncing of strugglers Guatemala. With only five minutes gone, Borgetti - hero of Mexico's recent FIFA Confederations Cup run - controlled a high ball brilliantly and fired home to put the Central Americans behind the eight ball early. Having conceded two goals in the first five minutes of their first match against Jamaica, Ramon Maradiaga's men must have been having déjà vu at the cavernous LA Coliseum.
Minute 14 brought more heroics from the predatory Borgetti. Twisting and turning after a bit of fine approach work, the Pachuca man bagged a historic second. His 35th goal for El Tri, Borgetti is now tied with Luis Hernandez and Carlos Hermosillo for the national team's all-time scoring record.
As tournament top scorer Carlos Ruiz strained and stretched to get Guatemala back into the match, the Mexicans were in irresistible form. Gerardo Galindo stroked into an open net in minute 55 and ten minutes later substitute Omar Bravo sealed the Central Americans' miserable night by slotting between Miguel Angel Klee's legs.
"We attacked from the outset and imposed our style of play," Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe remarked after the match. "Borgetti is a goal scorer," he added of his ace striker. "He does very well in getting away from defenders and is able to find the goal at will."
The second Group C match saw another goal fest from Jamaica as they thrice came from behind to draw South Africa 3-3. Wasteful with their finishing in the early going, the islanders found themselves a goal down in minute 34 when Abram Raselemane got on the end of a flicked header in the box to volley home.
Jamaica's response could not have been more immediate as Jermaine Hue hammered home with his left foot to even the score just seconds after the restart. But with five minutes to go before the whistle, the freakishly lanky Lungisani Ndlela snuck in at the near post to nod South Africa back into the lead.
Just one minute on, though, Damion Stewart headed home from a corner to draw level.
When the impressive Siyabango Nomvete steamed through on a breakaway, he looked to have poked the winner ten minutes after the interval. But true to form, the Reggae Boyz bounced back and grabbed one more equaliser through Teafore Bennet ten minutes from time.
After two matchdays South Africa and Jamaica lead Group C with four points apiece, followed by Mexico with three and Guatemala with none.
Mexico lost to an under strength South Africa by 2-1 in theier 1st game but the scoreline was not a true statement of the actual match. Mexico actually dominate the match but were let down by poor finishing. But we gotta give the African team credit for holding their ground to defeat the best team in this tournament.
Mexico did not let this defeat bring them down. They thrashed Guatemala 4-0 in their next game with star striker Borgetti bagging in 2 goals. As usual Mexico dominate the match and even prevent Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz from scoring. He scored a hat trick in the game against Jamaica.
Jamaica won their 1st game against Guatemala 4-3 followed by a 3-3 draw with South Africa. They are surely a team that can score, but their defence is as leaky.
Mexico should win Jamaica easily. with Borgetti carrying on his scoring form from the Confederations Cup and scoring 2 against Guatemala, he can easily score 2 o 3 goals against a lacklustre Jamaica defence which even Guatemala and an under strength African team can score 3 goals. Jamaica won't find it easy to score as freely against a stronger Mexico defence which is definitely better than Guatemala and South Africa. Recomend to  bet Mexico -1 1/4 win 1.945, with Pointbet .
|
|
Gold Cup 14th July
