Downplaying Dominance, Mexico Rolls to a Shutout
Say what you will about Mexico’s road to another Gold Cup title being littered with a bunch of patsies. The way the three-time defending champions see it, they still have a long way to go before claiming a fourth consecutive title.
“It’s a very long tournament,” Mexico Coach Manuel Lapuente said. “We played very well, we had the score we were looking for and here we are.”
Courtesy of a 4-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in front of 22,131 at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday, Mexico continued its dominance of the Gold Cup tournament.
Since dropping a 2-0 decision to the United States in the 1991 semifinals, Mexico has outscored opponents, 51-4, while going 14-1 in the regional championship.
Sunday, Mexico used the first half to feel Trinidad and Tobago out before punishing the island nation in the second half of a Group C match.
“It’s just unfortunate to lose by such a large margin,” Trinidad and Tobago Coach Bertille St. Clair said. “We played well in the first half.”
Mexico led by only one at intermission.
In the 37th minute, defender Rafael Marquez scored on a breakaway opportunity, firing his shot past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Clayton Ince.
Mexico went to a freewheeling substitution pattern in the second half and essentially ran past a fatigued Trinidad and Tobago.
Still, Trinidad and Tobago did have a chance at tying the score early in the second half.
Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez was caught napping but defender Sergio Almaguer alertly cleared the ball out before it crossed into the goal, setting in motion another Mexico breakaway score.
Luis Hernandez scored this time, off a Francisco Palencia pass, in the game’s 52nd minute.
Mexico then took a 3-0 lead on a Trinidad and Tobago “own” goal when Shurland David’s pass to his goalkeeper eluded him and ended up in the net in the 75th minute.
Mexico’s final score came in the 85th minute. Palencia scored off a Jesus Arellano pass for the final margin.
A hands ball call near the Mexico goal on Arellano three minutes later seemingly gave Trinidad and Tobago a chance to finally score.
But referee Rafael Rodriguez of El Salvador waved off Dwight Yorke’s converted free kick and made him attempt another. Perez blocked this one and the match was essentially over.
“[Trinidad and Tobago] created a lot of plays but the end result was that we won,” Marquez said.
Mexico, the No. 10 team in the world, next plays No. 73 Guatemala on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Coliseum. No. 43 Trinidad and Tobago plays Guatemala Tuesday at 9 p.m. at the Coliseum.
Earlier, in a Group D match, Canada pulled off a mild upset with a 2-2 tie of Costa Rica in the opening game of the doubleheader. Costa Rican star forward Pablo Wanchope did not play the first half.
“It’s disappointing but you have to remember that we have not been together as a team for too long,” Costa Rica Coach Marvin Rodriguez said. “In the 3 1/2 months that I have been coach, this is the first time I’ve had all the players together that I wanted.”
Canada Coach Ogler Osieck wasn’t buying it.
“That’s a bunch of crap,” Osieck said. “No team I know of has been together that long. Everybody faces the same thing.”
Costa Rica scored first, in the 10th minute, when forward Jafet Soto converted Wilmer Lopez’s pass into a hard shot that eluded Canadian goalkeeper Craig Forrest.
Nine minutes later, referee Peter Prendergast of Jamaica called Costa Rica for pushing near the net, awarding Canada a penalty kick.
Carlo Corazzini made good on the kick, blowing his shot by Costa Rican goalkeeper Hermido Barrantes.
Harold Wallace gave Costa Rica a short-lived 2-1 lead in the 54th minute. Wallace scored from the right side off a cross pass from Sandro Alfaro.
But Canada answered three minutes later when Corazzini scored his second goal of the day, coming on a bicycle kick off a short pass from Jason Devos.
Costa Rica pushed the tempo and the remainder of the match was played near the Canadian goal, but Forrest made several spectacular saves down the stretch to preserve the draw.
Meanwhile, Wanchope, a European teammate of Forrest with West Ham United of the English Premier League, was disillusioned by his coach’s decision to sit him for the first half.
“I don’t know why my manager did that,” Wanchope said. “I was surprised and disappointed.”
Canada, ranked 80th in the world, plays No. 52 Korea Tuesday at the Coliseum at 7 p.m. while No. 64 Costa Rica plays Korea on Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Coliseum.
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Gold Cup: Up Next
The remaining schedule for the 2000 Gold Cup:
Group Play
*--*
Day Teams Site Time Today Jamaica vs. Honduras Miami 4 Haiti vs. Peru Miami 6 Tue. South Korea vs. Canada L.A. 7 Trinidad & Tobago vs. Guatemala L.A. 9 Wed. Honduras vs. Colombia Miami 4 Peru vs. United States Miami 6 Thu. Mexico vs. Guatemala L.A. 7 South Korea vs. Costa Rica L.A. 9
*--*
Quarterfinals
*--*
Day Teams Site Time Sat. TBD Miami Noon TBD Miami 2:30 Sun. TBD San Diego Noon TBD San Diego 2:30
*--*
Semifinals
*--*
Day Teams Site Time Feb. 23 TBD San Diego 8 Feb. 24 TBD L.A. 8
*--*
Championship
*--*
Day Teams Site Time Feb. 27 TBD L.A. 8
*--*
Games in Los Angeles played in Coliseum; All times Pacific
