It's over, we won! Our fourth Gold, and Donovan and Feilhaber scored.
Soccer: United States wins fourth Gold Cup
By Duncan Irving AFXPublished: June 25, 2007
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The United States retained the CONCACAF Gold Cup in stunning fashion Sunday, by rallying from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Mexico, 2-1, in a pulsating match at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Landon Donovan's penalty in the 61st minute canceled out Andres Guardado's first-half goal, before a murderous volley by Benny Feilhaber in the 72nd minute gave the Americans regional bragging rights for the fourth time, and the financial boost of a place at the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa.
Widespread bilingual television coverage and large crowds nationwide demonstrated that the Gold Cup is gaining both in recognition and prestige from its modest 1991 origins. The standard of play among of the region's 12 participants was higher than observers predicted, particularly by Guadeloupe, which lost in the semifinals. And viewers and fans were accordingly rewarded with an exciting and technically proficient championship game that raised the bar for future tournaments.
Mexico, which had labored through the group stages and had struggled to dispose of Guadeloupe in the semifinals, gave few indications that it would defeat the Americans for the first time in eight years, yet El Tri was by far the more aggressive of the two teams in a fast-paced first half. Nene Castillo's mazy runs shredded the U.S. midfield and left opposing defenders heavy-legged, while Andres Guardado highlighted the limitations of the wooden Jonathan Spector, a replacement for the suspended  and speedier  Frankie Hejduk.
The red-card suspension of his son Michael had also forced U.S. Coach Bob Bradley to give Feilhaber a shot in midfield alongside Pablo Mastroeni, but each seemed uncomfortable and hamstrung by the presence of the other. Clint Dempsey was bumped out onto the right flank, moved into the center, and then back out wide again to little effect. Brian Ching cut a lonely figure at center forward (if Bradley could somehow combine the aerial ability of Ching, the speed of Eddie Johnson and Taylor Twellman's nose for goal, he would have one decent center forward). And Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley looked as if they were about to repeat the indifferent form of last summer's World Cup.
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True, the two threatened briefly in the 16th minute when Donovan's pass from the right found Beasley, but Mexican keeper Oscar Sanchez advanced to snuff out the danger.
It was no surprise when Mexico took the lead two minutes before halftime. U.S. left back Jonathan Bornstein was caught in possession inside the Mexican half and stripped by Omar Bravo, who fed Jaime Lozano on the flank. Lozano found Castillo, who tore into a U.S. defense that was pulled out of shape and position. He slotted the ball past Oguchi Onyewu to the unmarked Guardado, who turned and smashed it home from 6 yards.
El Tri picked up where they left off in the second half, but were unable to turn possession to further advantage. And it was somewhat against the run of play that Mexican defender Jose Jonny Magallon clipped Ching in the box. Donovan ignored the goal line theatrics of Sanchez to put away his spot-kick away and tie the game.
Mastroeni had been replaced at halftime, leaving the inexperienced Ricardo Clark to operate in central midfield alongside the unimpressive Feilhaber. But it was Feilhaber who provided the killer blow  a screaming volley from 20 yards after meeting a botched Mexican clearance from Donovan's corner.
Mexico was forced to attack in numbers in the final 15 minutes, which left gaps in the defense that the U.S. forwards failed to exploit: Twellman shot tamely at Sanchez; Ching dithered and shot against the post; while Beasley crashed a shot against the crossbar in the 89th minute.
Meanwhile, Tim Howard came up with a point-blank save from substitute Adolfo Bautista in the 87th minute to preserve a memorable victory for the host nation.
The Americans were worthy winners of this tournament. For all the profligate finishing, they always managed to find a goal when it was needed, often from the unlikeliest of sources, be it Hejduk in the semifinals, or Feilhaber this afternoon.
Bradley will rejigger his squad  the emphasis will be on youth  and head down to Venezuela for the Copa America, where they will face Argentina in the first game of the group phase on Thursday.