2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup

[BtownJay]

OHHH, okay, thanks gunner. I caught parts of it but my Spanish sucks, bad.

[klicks]

congrats the the US squad. I've only seen highlights so far, but based on just them it looked like a great game. What a save by Howard near the end, and Mexico's keeper made some spectacular saves to keep it 2-1. I'll have to wait until one of the sportschannels shows a replay to see the game.
Nice write-up there Gunner.

[Gunnerman]

Thanks klicks, the Mexican keeper Osvaldo Sanchez was spectacular as well. He did make some fantastic saves but was not nearly under as much pressure as Tim Howard was, especially in the first half. The Mexcians had at least 10 corner kicks to the USA's 2 or 3.

And that Feilhaber goal, what a thing of beauty, one time shot off the volley, my jaw hit the floor first followed by massive amounts of jumping up and down and giving the Mexican fans on my TV the finger.

[BtownJay]

Originally Posted by Gunnerman

So with the win the USA qualifies for the Confederations Cup to be played in 2009 in South Africa. The Confederations Cup is kind of a warm up competition for the host nation of the next World Cup.

In case you want to avoid work like I am trying to do....

2009 FIFA Confederations Cup - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia <---- great info on the upcoming Confed. Cup.

[klicks]

I did see that Feilhaber goal on the replays - no keeper in the world could have stopped that, what accuracy for a one-timer and it was smokin' too. Does he usually have that kind of talent at the one-timer or was it maybe a little flukie? The velocity was typical for a one-timer from a volley, but that accuracy was something else (usually see those sail over the cross-bar by about 5 feet).

[Gunnerman]

I'd say that Feilhaber's shot was not typical of his talent, he even admitted in a post match interview that typically those types of attempts usually sail way high over the goal.

But, if you are gonna connect on a sweet volley like that one it is best to save it for the big stage.

[klicks]

I'd say, timing is everything in sports - and life for that matter.

[ssigman]

comments below

Originally Posted by Gunnerman

HOLY CRAP ON A STICK!

What a fantastic win for the USA against Mexico!

My opinion of that fantastic 2-1 win in the Final is that Bob Bradley out coached Hugo Sanchez BIG TIME! The Mexicans where well in control of the first half and came out with a 1-0 lead on the goal by Guardado, who was the best player in the game up to half time. The US played a style in the first half that seemed to say to me that they just wanted to hold on and keep the Mexicans close in the 1st half. Then some brilliant substitions and adjusting of positions in the 2nd half gave the Americans the stuff that lead them through to the win.

As far as players go:

Tim Howard - Great save near the death that preserved the victory. This is the USA's #1 now, this guy is tremendous. totally agree gunny...played very well...huge save at the end...got all his good practice as a youngster against yours truly

Carlos Bocanegro - He was the skipper for the match and he was really impressive. This was perhaps the best game I ever saw him play. He continually thwarted and snuffed out the Mexican attack. 100% agree

Oguchi Onyewu - While I was disappointed with his play early in the Gold Cup he has continually improved. played well...his size is almost a hinderence cause the refs call everything

Jonathan Bornstein - This guy will be the right back for many years, speed to burn and he was smart enough to play a conservative style in 1st half which kept the score close. i think spector played amazing and am really impressed with his poise and ability to get upfield

Brian Ching - He was a complete waste of space in the first half. The second half he gets the penalty call which allowed Landy-Cakes to score. I am still not convinced that he is the answer up front and his shot off the post I think proves that point. him and twellman are national team disasters

Landy-Cakes - Had some spurts of flare in the 1st half but really played well in the 2nd half. It almost seems to me that he was conserving energy in the 1st half and kind of watched Mexico burn themselves out sos he could exploit them in the 2nd. i like him much better at right half

Demarcus Beasely - Decent game but he can be very frustrating to watch. Some of his passing is still very suspect and that miss off the cross bar near the end, UGH! worst american international of all time

Ricardo Clark - This was a GREAT substitution. His influence early in the 2nd half put the Mexicans on the back foot. This was Bradley's best tactical decision of the entire day. Pablo Mastroeni was not playing badly but, Clark gave the US a lot more speed as he ran from one end of the pitch to the other. looked very good in the 2nd half

Benny Feilhaber - Crap 1st half half followed by WOW!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!! he's the next reyna...as far as controllig the middle..very impressed with him

So with the win the USA qualifies for the Confederations Cup to be played in 2009 in South Africa. The Confederations Cup is kind of a warm up competition for the host nation of the next World Cup.