Mexico Defeats Brazil, 1-0

Mexico defeated Brazil, 1-0, on Daniel Osorno’s goal seven minutes into overtime Sunday to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Mexico, which won the title for the first time since 1998, didn’t allow a goal during its five games in the tournament, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Brazil sent its under-23 team and didn’t use its top players.

Because Brazil was an invited guest from outside the region, a loss by Mexico would have forced it into a playoff with the United States to determine which nation would represent CONCACAF in the 2005 Confederations Cup. In front of 70,000, Osorno won the berth for Mexico when he threaded a 15-yard shot between two defenders for Mexico’s 12th goal of the tournament.

“I dedicate this victory to Ricardo, who had confidence that I could play,” Osorno said, referring to Mexico Coach Ricardo Lavolpe.

Lavolpe, born in Argentina, was charged with rebuilding a Mexican team that lost to the United States in the second round of last year’s World Cup. The Mexicans also defeated Brazil, 1-0, in their tournament opener on July 13. Brazil eliminated the defending champion U.S., 2-1, in overtime Wednesday night in Miami and didn’t have much time to adjust to playing in the thin air of Mexico City.

“We were not good. The altitude affected us,” Brazilian forward Robinho said.