Mexico Wins to Reach Cup Final
Mexico replaced the United States as champion of soccer’s North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region on Thursday night when it defeated Costa Rica, 2-0, in the rain before 35,000 fans at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in the semifinals of the 2003 Gold Cup.
First-half goals by defender Rafael Marquez -- on an improbable 45-yard shot -- and Jared Borgetti were enough to earn Coach Ricardo Lavolpe’s team a place in Sunday’s championship match against Brazil at the same stadium.
The Brazilians are invited guests at the tournament, meaning that Mexico, as the last remaining CONCACAF team, is the region’s champion regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s match.
On Saturday, the U.S., which lost, 2-1 in overtime, to Brazil in its semifinal, and Costa Rica will play for third place in Miami in a game pitting 2002 U.S. World Cup Coach Bruce Arena against 1998 U.S. World Cup coach Steve Sampson for the first time.
Sampson now coaches Costa Rica.
In an international friendly played Thursday night in Lima, Peru, Martin Liguera scored two goals as Uruguay twice came from behind to defeat Peru, 4-3.
The Real Tour
David Beckham and the rest of Real Madrid’s multi-million dollar team left Spain for Asia on Thursday, with the club’s Argentine sporting director, Jorge Valdano, saying the roster will be cut to a more manageable size once the four-game trip to China, Japan and Thailand is over.
“All the players know their own situation,” Valdano said. “The ideal number for our squad is between 20 and 22. In two weeks we’ll have finalized the squad.”
Brazilian international midfielder Flavio Conceicao did not make the trip, because he is negotiating a move to Middlesbrough of the English Premier League. England’s Steve McManaman and Spain’s Fernando Morientes are also rumored to be on their way out.
Meanwhile, Valdano defended the $2.9 million per game that Real demands in appearance fees, although the amount caused Malaysia to cancel a planned match against Real in Kuala Lumpur.
“We have not demanded too much,” Valdano said. “There are other places where we could have earned more. We are not going to the Far East for financial reasons.
“It gives us the chance to be near fans who otherwise would not be able to see us. The aim of the club is to be universal.”
Communication Gap
Real Madrid will learn, as Liverpool did on Thursday, that Asian soccer can provide unique surprises.
The English team, enjoying its own Far East tour, defeated Thailand’s national team, 3-1, in front of 50,000 in the rain in Bangkok. The first half lasted 55 minutes, instead of 45, because of a misunderstanding.
Liverpool coaches had told the referee that the team would make no substitutions in the first 60 minutes, which the referee understood to mean that Liverpool wanted a 60-minute half. It took 10 extra minutes before the error was realized.
“It’s the longest first half I have ever experienced,” said Liverpool’s French coach, Gerard Houllier.
The match also was interrupted when a fan ran onto the field to shake hands with a Liverpool player before being collared by security.
Quick Passes
South Korea’s Lee Chun-Soo, 22, one of the most entertaining players in the 2002 World Cup, joined Real Sociedad of Spain, saying it was his ambition “to become the first South Korean player to score a goal in the European Champions League.” ... Former England and current Tottenham Hotspur Coach Glenn Hoddle gave his backing to South Africa in its bid to stage the 2010 World Cup.
Times wire services contributed to this report.
