Honduras pulled off a massive upset in New York in Sunday′s 1st match, triumphing over 10 man Mexico thanks to a stunning brace from tournament top scorer Carlos Costly.
After Cuauhtemoc Blanco was sent off early in the 2nd half for an impetuous off the ball foul, Reinaldo Rueda′s Hondurans ran rampant and Poland-based Costly struck his second, and the game′s winner, one minute into second-half stoppage time. In the day′s late match, Panama and Cuba played out an enthralling 2-2 draw that sees the Central Americans top Group C with 4 points.
Honduras came out in the day′s early game showing far more verve, with Mexico, who struggled to beat Cuba in their 1st match, still looking out of sorts. Yet, inspite of their early attacking edge, the Central Americans missed out on their clearest chance to take the lead.
After Carlos Pavon was taken down in the box by Mexican keeper Oswaldo Sanchez in the 13th minute, Honduran captain and all time caps leader Amado Guevara, who once played his club football at the Meadowlands with the MetroStars, would only smack his spot kick off the post after sending Sanchez the wrong way.
The Mexicans, on the other hand, made no mistake when presented with a similar chance at the other end in the 27th minute. After Alberto Medina was felled in the corner of the box by Emilio Izaguirre, Blanco took a long run and slammed his kick into the back of the net.
However, Blanco′s moment in the sun ended 5 minutes after the break as his elbow off the ball into Edgar Alvarez′s ribs earned him a straight red. The Hondurans took advantage of their numerical superiority straight away when Costly collected a fine through ball from Guevara, rounded Sanchez and tucked home to draw level in minute 57. And in the 91st minute, the GKS Belchatow hit man swooped again to seal his big day with a towering header for the winning goal.
In the day′s 2nd match, Panama roared to the top of group C inspite of failing to beat a plucky Cuban eleven. Jose Luis Garces opened the scoring for the Panamanians on 14 minutes, however Cuba hit back in the 27th minute when Jaime Colome curled in a marvellous free kick from distance.
Panama, surprise finalists from 2005, then collected a go ahead goal only seconds after the restart when Blas Perez wriggled his way through the Cuban rearguard and hit home.
The Cubans, who impressed against Mexico in their 1st match, would not give up though, and pulled an equaliser back in the 74th minute with a cracking volley from Reynier Alcantara. The points were sure to be shared when Panama′s Felipe Baloy slammed a spot kick miles over the bar with 5 minutes to go.
Wednesday will be the final day of Group C action. Honduras (3 pts) have a date with Cuba (1 pt) in Houston whilst Mexico (3 pts) take on group leaders Panama (4 pts)
The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup continues on Monday when Group A concludes with Costa Rica (1 pt) taking on shock group leaders Guadeloupe (4 pts) and Haiti (2 pts) meet up with Canada (3 pts) in Miami.
09 06 2007
CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C action started on Friday night in New York with rising Central American powers Panama edging out 10 man neighbours Honduras 3-2. Star-studded, 4 time champions Mexico survived an early scare against Cuba to triumph out 2-1 thanks to goals from Jared Borgetti and Nery Castillo at the Meadowlands.
In Friday night′s 1st match, Panama, shock finalists from the last instalment of the Gold Cup, picked up right where they left off in the summer of 2005. A goal from Carlos Rivera in the 29th minute was equalised by Honduran captain and all time caps leader Amado Guevara, doing his best to motivate a side reduced to 10 men after Wilson Palacios saw red on 20 minutes for a lunging tackle.
Just 2 minutes later, though, the Panamanians hit back when Blas Perez′s powerful header flew into the top corner. Unable to recapture the form of the golden days of 1991 when they reached the Gold Cup Final, the Hondurans capitulated in the end to the new kids on the block in the UNCAF region after Jose Luis Garces curled home to the back post to seal the triumph with 9 minutes to go. Carlos Costly brought the score back to a respectable 3-2 with a minute to go, however it was too little too late for Honduras.
With a star-studded team assembled by current coach and former playing icon Hugo Sanchez, few expects Mexico to have much trouble in their opener against humble Caribbean outfit Cuba.
However, El Tri had themselves a rude awakening on 22 minutes when Reynier Alcantara got on the end of a classic counter-attack for the island underdogs and curled his shot home to a hush of disbelief from the large sections of Mexican fans. The island dream lasted fully 13 minutes, then Chivas darling Adolfo ′Bofo′ Bautista crossed for all time Mexican top scorer Jared Borgetti, who headed home home from close range.
A firm half time team talk from Sanchez had the Mexicans in fine form after the interval. Substitute and Tigres forward Jose Francisco ′Kikin′ Fonseca broke down the right flank in the 56th minute and fired a searing shot that Cuban keeper Odelin Molina spilled tantalisingly on the doorstep. Nery Castillo raced in and made no mistake to put El Tri in front, where they stayed to the final whistle.
Next up for Mexico is the date with Honduras on Sunday. Panama also play on Sunday, facing a tricky test against Cuba.
The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup continues on Saturday with Groups A and B in action. In Miami, Group A leaders Canada take on Guadeloupe and Haiti meet Costa Rica. In Group B in Los Angeles, holders USA play Trinidad & Tobago whilst Guatemala meet El Salvador.
