In a tough battle to the end, the USA prevailed over underdog Panama in a shootout 3-1 to win the 2005 Concacaf Gold Cup at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. USA goalie Kasey Keller played spectacularly to help the home team win. Panama goalie Jaime Penedo played so well to keep Panama make it that far and was voted the Best Goalkeeper in the 12 team tournament. Other winners of and all tournament team was as followed:
Jaime Penedo of Panama was selected as the goalkeeper in the tournament’s Best XI, while the three-man backline includes Felipe Baloy of Panama, Jorge Samuel Caballeros of Honduras and Oguchi Onyewu of USA.
The midfield’s Best XI is composed of DaMarcus Beasley (USA), Landon Donovan (USA), Jairo Patiño (COL), Luis Ernesto Perez (MEX), while the forwards are Tressor Moreno (COL), Luis Tejada (PAN) and Wilmer Velasquez (HON).
The All-Tournament Team ends with seven players receiving honourable mentions: goalkeeper – Kasey Keller (USA); defenders – Tyrone Marshall (JAM), Michael Umaña (CRC); midfielders – Philip Evans (RSA), John O’Brien (USA); forwards – Jorge Dely Valdes (PAN), Jafet Soto (CRC).
2005 CONCACAF GOLD CUP™ All-Tournament Team
Best XI
GK: Jaime PENEDO (PAN);
DF: Felipe BALOY (PAN), Jorge Samuel CABALLEROS (HON), Oguchi ONYEWU (USA);
MD: DaMarcus BEASLEY (USA), Landon DONOVAN (USA), Jairo PATIÑO (COL), Luis Ernesto PEREZ (MEX);
AT: Tressor MORENO (COL), Luis TEJADA (PAN), Wilmer VELASQUEZ (HON).
Honourable Mentions
GK: Kasey KELLER (USA);
DF: Tyrone MARSHALL (JAM), Michael UMAÑA (CRC);
MD: Philip EVANS (RSA), John O’BRIEN (USA);
AT: Jorge DELY VALDES (PAN), Jafet SOTO (CRC).
Panama beat a tough Columbia team in the semifinals 3-2 to advance to the finals. Columbia had defeated Mexico 2-1 and Panama squeaked by South Africa in a shootout to reach the semis. In the other bracket, Honduras beat Costa Rica 3-2 before bowing out to the USA in the semis. The USA team knocked off Jamaica 3-1 to advance as well. Team USA won a hard fought match vs. Honduras with 2 late goals to advance to the finals. John O’Brien scored in the 86th minute with a beautifully placed kick to tie the score and Oguchi ONYEWU’s goal in the 90th minute secured the win.
In an earlier match, Mexico eliminated Guatemala. Jared Borgetti showed early that he was going to take man of the match honors. Two early goals by Borgetti assured that the team would stay alive to contend for a quarterfinal spot. Mexico is coming off an upset against South Africa from this last Friday. The team started out with a high-pressure attack and did not let up. The loss for Guatemala will be there elimination from the tournament. Borgetti opened up the scoring in the 4th minute and added his second in the 15th. The two goals put Borgetti on in a three way tie with Carlos Hermosillo and Luis Hernandez for Mexico’s national team all time scorers’ record with 35.The 4-0 result was finished off by goals from Gerardo Galindo in the 55th and Omar Bravo in the 65th.Guillermo Ramirez of Guatemala will miss the final group play game against South Africa on Wednesday after being show a red card in the 88th minute.
On the same day, Jamaica and South Africa played to a draw, Honduras topped Columbia and Trinidad & Tobago tied Panama
The 2007 Concacaf Gold Cup just announced dates and venues to be determined. The twelve-team event will kick-off on Wednesday, 6 June and conclude with the final game scheduled for Sunday, 24 June 2007. Cities across the USA are expected to host the 2007 edition of the bi-annual event, which will once again crown the national team champion of the CONCACAF region. More information upcoming at www.concacaf.com or www.goldcup.org
