Was he older, overweight with poor eyesight, constantly out of position to make a call...he probably aced the SCHSL officials certification program...

Steady now guys. They aren't that bad!

Come on Truth, as long as it wasn't you!!!

Great first half by the U.S.

D. Beasley and L. Donovan put the Americans ahead 2-0 at intermission! Go USA!

Final:
US - 4
El Salvador - 0

DaMarcus Beasley (34)
Landon Donovan (pen 45)
Taylor Twellman (73)
DaMarcus Beasley (89)

Haha I am definitely not an official guys.

But the USA game was quality. Beasley should have finished those 2 great looks he had in the 1st half, just unfortunate. Good job guys!

Yeah nice wipping they put on El SAlvador. TEam loked real good. Im sure now that the US is going to win this tournament now, being that Mexico is playing poorly. BUt watch out for Guadeloupe cuz they're gonna be there till the end!!!

I'm glad to see Taylor getting some playing time after being in exodus last couple of years. Anybody seen the formation they've been playing?

Yeah, the game against El Salvador was sort of a 4-5-1. Dempsey up top and Donovan and Beasley withdrawn some, attacking mids kind of. I loved the formation, thought it was a perfect fit. I would love to see Eddie Johnson up top!

So now that the semifinals are here, what are those that are even interested in this "tournament" (sponsored by the SCHSL referees) picks. I say USA beats Canada 3-2 and Guadeloupe (which i have been saying all along will win) will upset Mexico 2-1.

Ok I cant be quite about this any longer....

USA 2
CAN 1
(BLAME CANADA!!!)

GUA 0
MEX 1

And the Final:
USA 2
MEX 0

^^^^^Hey that was #400^^^^^

400? That was four years ago!

Impressed with Canada, initially disappointed with Mexico, but they seem back to it.

DWAYNE!!!

Gotta mark him well.

^^^^^^ Yeah ur right about that. He is a beast. But i'm about ready for this tournament to end. Counting down to the Copa America already. N i dont htink Mexico is still playing up to their potential. Everything they are weak on in defense is Guadeloupe's strenght (speed and headers).

I certainly hope that the U.S. can pull off the semifinal vs. the Canucks and I hope that Mexico advance in the other semi for attendance and rivalry sakes.

A sellout at Soldier Field in the Gold Cup would be a solid testament for the USMNT.

Also, per USMNT reports, as I understand it the U.S. will field a more "inexperienced" side in the Copa America and use it more for seasoning some of the younger players that have not been exposed as much to international soccer.

At any rate, I love having summer international soccer to focus on and that we can watch on TV.

My understanding is that the decision was made primarily to get the more heralded MLS players back to their respective domestic teams and to give the Euro-based players a summer break.

I could have heard wrong however.

There is a good thread discussing this issue at BigSoccer.com -- USMNT 2007 Schedule.

The interesting points that I took from the article is that Bob Bradley is 8-0-1 heading into the semifinal of the Gold Cup with Canada. Also the USMNT is averaging 2.11 goals per match under Bradley. According to some posters in the thread, the Copa America roster will be released Thursday.

I am glad to see he is gonna use a more 'inexperienced' roster those guys are just as good, and I think they can do well. Hard to call them 'inexperienced' when most of them have played u20 nationals and such.

Plus Donovan doesnt want to play in it so he can be with his man lover beckham when he gets to LA.

If you look at the other nine participants in the Copa, other than Brazil who is sending their "B" squad, the other teams are sending World Cup caliber teams to this tournament. What Bradley should have done is used the "inexperienced" guys in this jv tournament and send a much tougher squad to Venezuela, where the competition will be 10x tougher than El Salvador and Panama. As for Donovan, he knew this tournamnet was gonna be a weak one, so he would look good. Everybody knows he chokes on the important tournamnets against really good squads. Let him be with his master Beckham.

Honestly I dont believe in our younger guys being the 'B' squad...we will see what they are made of in Copa play.

OFFSIDE or NOT ?????

You make the call...

http://video.google.com/videosearch?um=1&tab=wv&hl=en&q=us%20vs%20canada%20offsides

Onside clearly!

Per FIFA rules see 3rd point, after reading this and watching the video what do you think....????

It looks like he is ON to me.


Decision 2
The definitions of elements of involvement in active play are as follows:
• Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate.
• Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
• Gaining an advantage by being in that position means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.

ON

ON without a doubt

Well, i didn't get to watch the US/Canada game and have yet to see the highlights. But from what i heard the US didn't play that well. I still think they're gonna win the Cup and get the birth for the Confederations Cup in '09. Mexico is still playing bad..............and too bad for my boys at Guadeloupe. Thought ya'll could pull it off!!!!!! O well, only 4 days till Copa America!!

If you get the last one right.... I want you to pick the powerball numbers for me.

me too

I have really enjoyed watching these younger players in the Gold Cup. I thought Bradley had his best game of the tourney against Canada until he got the RED.

However, we really do have some issues. Communication in the back seems to be weak. Even Keller looked out of sorts back there with the central defenders. Old Franky played well but it was more effort than anything!

I really want to like Donovan, I really do. But what is that kissy kissy stuff before his PK's. He does have three goals in this tournament! But how many were PK's? He lost the ball countless times last night and I thought he was sub-par......Whether it is him, the guys around him or just the team, something is missing there!!!

Donovan whiffing on a sitter and Oguchi nodding back a perfect through ball to the Canadian forward were definitely not US highlights.

Why didn't Oguchi just let the ball play through to Keller? I hope he was trying to head it out wide but it went square right to the canadian dude who slotted it in.

Bradley's foul was foolish and deserved a red. hopefully, he won't do it again.

Hugo Sanchez promised a Mexican victory in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in this month's "World Soccer" magazine.

The US has been playing great under Bradley. As for Sanchez, I honestly don't think he'll last that long at Mexico. His style is not the right one for the Mexicans and his personality on the field will get him in trouble. As for him promising a gold cup victory.........the media is already pounding him on the poor playing of Mexico. he's gonna get buried when they lose to the US again. And i believe after Mexico lost to the US a few months back, he guaranteed the next time they faced off, Mexico would win, no matter where they played.

What I don't like about him is how he trashed the previous coach day in and day out. He got canned/quit his club job after running his mouth and running his mouth...then not putting up the results himself. Defeat might be a good dose of humility for him.

Amen to that my friend. many Mexican die hard fans don't like him because of how he is. And the fact that every game they've won so far has been by the minimal margin. But it's going to be a bad week for him coming up. Starting with a nice whoopin from his arch rivals, and then a beatdown by the 5 time world champs. Hate to be him right now

That Brazil match up is scary...almost as scary as an Argentinian match up against a team that is on 13 year trophy drought and all possible internationals have reported (see Kaka and Ronaldhino for Brazil) so they can end it!

A nice W in the Gold Cup will take away the sting from next week.

Super win for the U.S. today! 2-1 is the final after trailing 1-0 at intermission. The game-winning goal by Benny Feilhaber was top shelf! Well done Bob Bradley & Company and good luck at Copa America!

Way to go US! Men's team show some grit and come from behind to beat Mexico in the final off another pk from Donovan and a BOMB from Feilhaber. story from soccernet.com

dang one goal away from calling that one right too.....Didnt get to watch the game.....too cheap for FSC....Always good to get a win over Mexico though...Another PK for Donovan is that some kind of Gold Cup record what did he have 4 goals all from PK's

Big time win for the USA!!! Tremendous effort in the second half down 1-0. Great strike from Feilhaber too! Awesome!!!

U.S. comes back to beat Mexico, win Gold Cup
The Associated Press

Change the venue, change the coaches, change the players. The only thing that doesn't change when Mexico and the United States play is the result.

Landon Donovan scored his 34th career goal, tying Eric Wynalda atop the career list, and Benny Feilhaber connected on a gorgeous volley as the United States rallied for a 2-1 victory over Mexico on Sunday in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

The victory extended the Americans' dominance over their neighbors to the south and gave them a berth in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, an important tuneup ahead of the 2010 World Cup. The United States is 9-2-1 against Mexico since 2000, including 8-0-1 on U.S. soil.

Mexico at least managed a goal this time, snapping a streak of eight straight shutouts in the United States. Jose Andres Guardado's goal in the 44th minute was El Tri's first on U.S. soil in 797 minutes.

Mexico had a chance to tie it in the 89th minute when Adolfo Bautista came up with a loose ball in front of the goal. But goalkeeper Tim Howard reached up as he was falling, and punched the ball free to preserve the win.

The teams failed to shake hands after the final whistle, another recent "tradition" in this rivalry. Instead, the Americans ran over to Sam's Army -- really more of a platoon -- to salute the small contingent of U.S. fans in the sellout crowd of 60,000. Donovan tossed his shirt into the stands, then grabbed a U.S. flag that a fan tossed and wrapped it around his shoulders.

This is the fourth Gold Cup title for the Americans, tying them with Mexico. It also kept new coach Bob Bradley's perfect record intact at 10-0-1. Bradley took over as interim coach after Bruce Arena was let go after the World Cup, and was given the job permanently May 16.

His task gets tougher Thursday, when he leads a U.S. team without most its regular starters against Argentina at the Copa America, South America's championship.

During its run of success against Mexico, the United States has taken the early lead and then held on. Its aggressive counterattacking style was usually enough to fluster Mexico and keep it off balance long enough to get away with a victory.

Not this time.

Mexico jumped out to a first-half lead, and the Americans were forced to play catch up, something they're not used to. But they got a break in the 60th minute, when Brian Ching was tripped up in the box by Jose Jonny Magallon. Compared to the other rough-and-tumble antics Sunday, this barely looked like a foul. Magallon tugged at Ching's jersey, and the two tangled feet as Ching turned around.

But it was all Donovan needed.

Donovan, the U.S. player Mexican fans most love to boo, took a slow jog to the ball and appeared to barely give it much of a kick. But Mexico goalie Oswaldo Sanchez started to move to his right, then hesitated, and that split second cost hm any chance he had of getting to the ball, which hit the right corner of the net for Donovan's fourth goal of the tournament, all on penalty kicks.

As his teammates mobbed him, Donovan wiped his brow as if to say, "That was a relief."

The goal seemed to loosen up all of the Americans. Ten minutes later, Donovan took a corner kick that was flicked clear by a Mexican defender. But the ball went right to Feilhaber, who scored on a perfect right-footed volley from 22 yards out for his second goal in eight international appearances.

The goal -- and the switch in the lead -- was enough to convert some of the pro-Mexico crowd. Though the fans cheered wildly when Cuauhtemoc Blanco came on as a late substitute, there were a smattering of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" chants in the final minutes.

The Americans could have added another goal, too. Donovan fed DaMarcus Beasley with a perfect cross in front of the goal, but Beasley's shot banged off the crossbar.

It was Mexico that was doing the counterattacking early, pushing and shoving and playing the Americans' kind of game. It worked, too. After struggling to finish several early chances, Nery Castillo beat Oguchi Onyewu and crossed to Guardado in front of the box in the 44th minute.

Guardado had been left unmarked and was all alone by the left post. As Howard slipped, Guardado poked the ball into the goal with his left foot, setting off a frenzied celebration on the field and in the stands.

Give Donovan credit for laying the ball off for Beasley when he could have gone for it to break Wynalda's scoring record (although I'd like to see him pull the trigger a bit more.) Beasley could have goofed that more if he'd stubbed his toe and fell on his face.

Just saw Feilhabers goal on the internet and all I have to say is easily best goal of the tournament and probably of the year. Glad he is on the roster for the copa cup and hope to see more of him.

If you havent seen it here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...h&plindex=3

Feilhaber's was incredible. Best goal I have seen from an American in a long while.

When you watch volley attempts like that, 9 times out of 10 the player really misses it badly. that's one of the nicest goals that I have seen in a while.

On the other hand, Beasley's miss was one of the worst shots that I have seen. You simply should not miss a shot like that.

Great win for the US and a beautiful goal, don't know about the best of the tourney though. Angloma's goal against Canda is probably the best one in the tourney. But great finish by US. As for el "tri", their coach is in hot water right now, for losing (once again) to the US and for his comments after the game. Got a feeling both these squads are gonna slump at the Copa though. US squad is way too inexperienced and Mexico is on some bad times. ONLY ONE MORE DAY!!!!!!

Beautiful goal... in spanish "GOLAZO"... My U10s missed one like Beasley's

Would you believe tha the Mexican papers clearly state that US was helped in the game by the refereeing who called a "minor" infraction in the box?

I do not know about you but it was clearly a PK as much as Canada's 2nd goal was not offside.

for a little credit, however, the papers are now saying that US is the number 1 team in the region period. In many blogs there is shame in the fact that Mexico is "happy" because at least they scored for the first rime in 800 minutes. Hugo is most definetely in hot water and the Brazil game will not help either.

As far as the US... a somewhat inexperienced squad beat (on paper) a very strong mexican team.

Castillo and Guardado are nightmare players and Bocanegra had the best game I ever saw him play. As bad as it sounds, the best play Spector made was to collide heads with Guardado. He was definetely out of it after that.

I like the fact that Bradley is going to copa america with young talent (I assume by choice). Ther are many complaints from the mexican squad about resting a from long seasons. He will have his first losses as coach and will give valuable experience to many players for future use. Long term thinking is what US soccer has to be about.

First off the goal by Feilhaber was amazing it looked like the replay of the goal that Argentina scored against Mexico in the world cup to knock them out last year..also i loved how Hugo was whinning to the refs after the game was over he realized that he is probably going to get fired...and as far as the Copa America goes its going to be a learning expierence for the young US squad...If they do pull out a win against Argentina it will be a pretty big upset in the soccer world and maybe good for soccer in the States.

Yeah i read in some of the spanish papers that it wasn't a penalty, but regardless USA dominated the second half. As for players being "tired" or needing a break from Mexico's squad, Many of those players are what the media calls "lavolpistas" (in reference to the former coach Lavolpe). They don't like Hugo. Look at many players in the other squads like Nessi and Farfan and others who haven't ahd a break and yet are honored to play in the Copa. USA, i believe is gonna put up better efforts, but the most they'll get iis 1 pt. As for mexico, they're gettin goose egged. O n US is the #1 team in CONCACAF

Agreed JAG.... what i was indirectly stating is that the US chose to let some of the European players rest and the MLS big names go back to their teams. This can only help Bradley in the long run. He is willing to put out a very young team and take a whipping just so he can have more experience in the future.

Is it Bradley's doing? or USSF? Do not know, but long term is the way to go.


As far as lavolpistas...if this is the way in the future, Mexico will never be a powerhouse again in Concacaf. as an example see Bruce Arena and 2006... I do not like him...I do not know my assignment.... blah blah blah.... you are professionals which means you get paid.

I do not like some of the people I have to deal with, but I deal with them in any case. Bunch of prima donnas... I am willing to bet that had Mexico won the whole song and dance about Sanchez and Lavolpa would be different.

will any copa matches be on TV/cable?

I know for a fact that Univision and Telefutura and i think GOLTV is doing it for the english part.

for what channels the US games are go on to ussoccer.com and go to schedule & tickets tab on the left, that will tell you what channel if any each game will be on.

Telefutura and GolTv are showing the games. Today I ordered the "Latin View" package for digital cable. It is just $5 a month. It includes GolTv and Galavision (which is showing the u20 games which are this week)

Yes, cable. Charter in Greenville.

Every soccer fan needs DirecTV. It has everything!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Amen to that!!!

Gold Cup draws bigger ratings than Stanley Cup

http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/103088.html