| | |  Americas & Beyond | July 2009 
Mexico Defeats Guadeloupe 2-0, Wins Gold Cup Group C
 Andrew Bagnato - Associated Press
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July 13, 2009
| | Mexico's Miguel Sabah celebrates his goal against Guadeloupe in the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match Sunday, July 12, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. Mexico defeated Guadeloupe 2-0. (AP/Ross D. Franklin) | |
Glendale, Ariz. — Banished to a suite in the grandstand, suspended Mexico coach Javier Aguirre liked what he saw in a 2-0 victory over Guadeloupe Sunday afternoon in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Gerardo Torrado and Miguel Sabah each scored as El Tri won Group C with two victories and a draw.
"We qualified and we feel good," Aguirre said through an interpreter. "We seemed lighter on our feet and more confident. I hope that we stay that way."
Mexico will face Haiti in the quarterfinals on July 19 in Arlington, Texas. Guadeloupe, the second-place Group C finisher, will take on Costa Rica on July 19, also in Arlington.
In the 41st minute, Torrado gathered in a feed from Efrain Juarez near the top of the penalty area, then drilled a right-footed shot past diving goalkeeper Yohan Bus and inside the left post. It was Torrado's second goal and Juarez' second assist of the tournament.
Guadeloupe's chances all but died when two players were sent off late. Alain Vertot drew his second yellow card for pulling down a Mexican attacker, and Ludovic Gotin got a straight red on a dangerous tackle.
With Guadeloupe down to nine men, Sabah headed home the clincher on a pass from Pablo Barrera in the 85th minute.
"We keep working hard, and now we are more confident, more relaxed and that helps us a lot," Torrado said.
Guadeloupe also played without four injured players and another who was suspended.
"We found ourselves chasing the game in the first half," Guadeloupe coach Roger Salnot said through an interpreter. "In the second half, we started to play a little more, but we couldn't turn the game around. Mexico was a superior team."
With green-clad El Tri fans dominating the crowd of 23,876 in air-conditioned University of Phoenix Stadium, Mexico didn't skip a beat without Aguirre.
Aguirre began a three-match suspension for starting a melee during a match against Panama on Thursday night in Houston, putting him in danger of missing a World Cup qualifier against the United States. The Mexican Football Federation was also fined $25,000 for what the CONCACAF disciplinary committee considered "serious irresponsible behavior" by the national coaching staff.
He's eligible to return for the final on July 26 if Mexico qualifies.
Aguirre watched from a suite high above the field while Mario Carrillo directed Mexico from the bench.
"Very tough, but I had to deal with it," Aguirre said. "I was penalized, but I really believe in my team. It was definitely tough, but it gave me a lot of perspective watching from up there."
The players said they didn't want to let Aguirre down.
"He's a great coach and he trusts us," Torrado said.
Mexico has won four Gold Cups, the last in 2003, but it is facing mounting pressure at home to restore its prominence internationally. The Mexicans lost to the United States in the 2007 Gold Cup final.
Sunday's result gives El Tri a boost heading into the knockout stage.
"We're very much in sync," Aguirre said.
Mexico dominated play from the opening minute, when speedy Alberto Medina broke free down the left side and fired a low shot that sent Bus sprawling for the save.
The Mexicans rattled off 10 shots in the first half, eight more than Guadeloupe, which barely threatened Mexican goalkeeper Memo Ochoa.
Guadeloupe's finest chance came in the 68th minute, when Larry Clavier leaped and headed a shot that appeared headed for the back of the net. But Ochoa leaped and tipped it over the crossbar.
"Tonight, technically, they were better than us," Salnot said. "We couldn't match them." |
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