Gold Cup 2023 Match Reports – Inside World Football

Mexico hit late winner against Panama to secure their 9th Gold Cup

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 02:13:46 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Los Angeles

July 16 – Mexico won their ninth Gold Cup title in the magnificent SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in front of a full house 72,953 crowd, beating Panama 1-0.

Substitute Santiago Gimenez was the Mexican hero with an 88th minute goal.

Panama in their third Gold Cup final, once again left empty handed but not after putting up a resilient final performance that graced the venue,

USA exit to Panama after a Snapdragon shoot-out

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:03:21 +0000

By Sam Nicholson in San Diego

July 13 – Panama stunned a tired-looking USA who ran out of ideas in a Gold Cup semi-final that was settled on penalties 5-4. To get to penalties flattered the US on this first time visit to the Snapdragon Stadium for the men’s national team.

Kicking off in Southern Californian 95 degree+ heat, the predominantly US-supporting home crowd failed to create any kind of home advantage for the US team.

Mexico’s fast start knocks Jamaica off their rhythm

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 00:02:47 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Las Vegas

July 12 – Mexico marched into the Gold Cup with a 3-0 win over Jamaica that was powered by an impressive first half display that saw them go into the break 2-0 up and the match pretty much won.

It has been a huge turnaround for this team under interim coach Jaime Lozano who took over following Mexico’s poor Nations League performance. Despite losing a group game to Qatar,

US win shoot-out against Canada on night of Gold Cup drama

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:20:18 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Cincinnati

July 9 – The USA clung on to their Gold Cup title for at least another round as they moved into the semi-finals after a 3-2 penalty shoot-out win against Canada. It was a night of passion and drama at the sold out TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

If this match saw two teams lacking their superstar names (too big to wear the shirt?), it more than made up for their absence with commitment and sheer edge-of-your-seat excitement as it built towards a big finish.

Jamaica bump past Guatemala for a date with Mexico in Vegas

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:14:22 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Cincinnati

July 9 – Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz made hard work of squeezing past Guatemala 1-0 at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati for a place in the semi-finals of the Gold Cup.

Jamaica will leave wondering how this became such hard world considering the opportunities they had, but relieved they didn’t throw the win away in the fashion of their opening game against the US where a procession of missed chances and a missed penalty opened the door for the US to equalise off a defensive error.

Mexican wave flows past Costa Rica

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 03:56:12 +0000

July 8 – Mexico overcame Costa Rica 2-0 in Arlington, Texas, to progress to the semi-finals of the Gold Cup in Las Vegas next week.

After their 1-0 loss to Qatar in a bad-tempered final group game, this performance put the Mexicans, under interim coach Jaime Lozano, back on track. They could, perhaps should, have won by more.

Costa Rica came into the game having had a patchy Gold Cup run.

The post Mexican wave flows past Costa Rica appeared first on Inside World Football.

Ismael Diaz hattrick sends rampant Panama past Qatar into Gold Cup semis

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 02:46:48 +0000

July 8 – A 9-minute second-half hattrick by Panama forward Ismael Diaz, in a 4-0 win, sent Gold Cup guest Qatar home at the quarter final stage.

Qatar came into the quarter final in Arlington, Texas, after a backs-to-the-wall 1-0 win over Mexico in their final group game. In 2021 Qatar had won football fans at the Gold Cup over with a free flowing and exciting brand of football.

The game against Mexico was nothing like that.

Costa Rica find form to beat Martinique and set up Mexico quarter final

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 03:03:06 +0000

By Samindra Kunti in New Jersey

July 4 – Costa Rica ran out 6-4 winners against Martinique to restore calm in their camp and set up a quarter-final with Mexico.

The Central Americans bounced back from a slow start in the tournament with just one point from two matches to outplay the Caribbean island nation with goals by Juan Vargas, Joel Campbell and Anthony Contreras in a 15-minute second-half cameo to ensure qualification for the knockout phase.

El Salvador put up a fight but can’t find enough punch to overcome Panama

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 02:55:36 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Houston

July 4 – Panama secured Group C top spot with a 2-2 draw on an intense and sticky evening in Houston in front of an impressive El Salvadorian support that roared their country on from start to finish.

El Salvador have disappointed this Gold Cup but on a night of passion and commitment in front of over 20,000, mainly El Salvadorian fans, they left everything they had on the pitch.

Guatemala claw back deficit to beat Guadaloupe in New York nail-biter

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:54:42 +0000

By Samindra Kunti in New Jersey

July 4 – On a sticky and neurotic night in Harrison, Carlos Meija delivered the killer blow in the 76th minute for Guatemala to complete Guatemala’s 3-2 comeback and ensure his team’s passage from Group D to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cupfor the first time since 2011.

At the final whistle, they ran to hug goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen, coach Luis Tena pumped his fists and the supporters in the stands partied like never before –

Canada down depleted Cuba to head into knockout rounds

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:22:47 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Houston

July 4 – Canada secured their progression into the Gold Cup knockout rounds with a 4-2 win over Cuba on another 94 degree afternoon at the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

Canada will meet Mexico next but will have to step up a gear in front of goal if they are to progress further.

Cuba arrived at the match with just 17 players out of their 23-man squad,

Qatar stun Mexico to hang on to 1-0 win and head in to quarter finals

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 01:57:12 +0000

By Nick Webster in Santa Clara

July 2 – It has been said that one is never enough, however despite having a paltry 24% of the possession Qatar stunned Mexico with a 27th minute goal by Hazem Shehata to seal a famous 1-0 victory.

It is the surprise win of the group stages and three points that sends the Qataris to the knockout round at the expense of Honduras in Group B.

Honduras shatter Haiti quarter final dream

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 01:50:21 +0000

By Samindra Kunti in Charlotte

June 2 – Honduras were eliminated from the Gold Cup despite a 2-1 victory against Haiti, a result rendered irrelevant because Qatar upset Mexico 1-0 in Group B’s other match. Haiti also depart the tournament.

In the end, there were no real winners in a match that saw Honduras fight back from a goal down to claim three points and move to four points in the group,

The post Honduras shatter Haiti quarter final dream appeared first on Inside World Football.

US hit six to take top spot and avoid Mexico in the final run-in

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 01:48:08 +0000

By Samindra Kunti in Charlotte

July 2 – The United States and Jesus Ferreira stormed past Trinidad and Tobago with a second-consecutive 6-0 victory and a new hattrick for the striker to clinch top spot in Group A on goal differential and avoid a potential clash with Mexico in the semi-finals.

The Americans enjoyed an almost perfect night to dispatch their Caribbean opponents with ease, Ferreira (pictured) once again starring with three goals before the break and substitute Cade Cowell lighting up the second half.

After slow start Jamaica up the pace to sweep past St Kitts

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 00:56:04 +0000

By Nick Webster in Santa Clara

July 1 – Under a blazing Santa Clara summers day where the on-field temperatures hovered around 92 degrees, the Reggae Boys played a tune on their Caribbean neighbours, St. Kitts & Nevis.

The 5-0 win was not enough for them to go to the top of the group on goal difference but do comfortably qualify for the quarter finals.

Jamaica dominated a first half that saw them have 69% of possession but only four shots on target as the St Kitts and Nevis rearguard battled bravely against their Premier League aggressors.

Canada and Guatemala battle to a draw on a hot and passionate night

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 04:28:27 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Houston

July 1 – On a hot and intense night in Houston, Canada and Guatemala played out a frantic 0-0 draw that leaves both teams with work to do to qualify for the next round.

A baying Guatemalan crowd pretty much filled the 22,000 capacity Shell Energy Stadium with the expectation that their team could turn over Canada, who two weeks ago were competing in the final of the Nations League in Las Vegas.

Guadeloupe and Cuba put on a show on a hot Houston night

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 01:22:59 +0000

July 1 – Cuba vs Guadeloupe was the warm-up for the night’s main event. But at 97 degrees at kick off, it could not have been much hotter.

And what a warm-up Cuba and Guadeloupe delivered. If it wasn’t a classic of football for the purist it delivered pretty much everything else from missed chances to crunching challenges. You really don’t get much more football fun than this. And all driven to a crescendo by Guatemalan fans who filled the stadium over the course of the game in preparation for their own contest.

Panama step towards quarter finals but Murillo injury could hurt

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 01:58:35 +0000

By Samindra Kunti in New Jersey

June 30 – On six points, Panama took a big step closer to qualifing for the last eight of the Gold Cup with a simple 2-1 victory against Martinique.

But Los Canaleros could miss key defender Michael Murillo for the rest of the tournament after he limped off with an injury in the second half.

Panama flew out of the blocks channelling all of the danger on their right channel with Murillo’s run in behind the Martinique defence leading to a narrowly missed opportunity and José Fajardo,

Mexico turn on the style to qualify for knockout rounds

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 16:00:36 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Glendale, Arizona

June 29 – Mexico majestically swept into the knockout rounds with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Haiti.

This match was a billed as a repeat of the 2019 Gold Cup semi-final classic that saw Mexico squeeze past Haiti with a goal in extra time.

It equally could have been billed as Beauty and the Beast. Mexico’s rediscovered fast paced possession game against Haiti’s more pragmatic physical approach.

Honduras given an added time lifeline after Qatar throw away points again

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:06:30 +0000

June 29 – Lightening does strike twice. For the second time in two matches a goal deep into extra time ruined Qatar’s chances of crucial group points.

Haiti scored against them seven minutes into added time to take all the points in Houston in their opening match. At the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, it was Honduras’ turn to ruin their party with a goal in the sixth minute of added time to level the score at 1-1.

Jamaica sink Trinidad and Tobago in the battle for Caribbean bragging rights

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 21:14:04 +0000

June 28 – Jamaica brushed Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago aside in St Louis with a 4-1 win that put them top of Group A.

It was an opportunity for Trinidad to show that they were alive and kicking after a number of years of mismanagement and the imposition of a Normalisation Committee. They had breezed past St Kitts and Nevis in their first game and up against traditional rivals in their second.

Ferreira hattrick as US brush aside St Kitts and Nevis

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 21:09:51 +0000

June 28 – The USA made short work of St Kitts and Nevis in front of a home crowd in a not quite full stadium in St Louis, beating the Caribbean islanders 6-0.

The win puts the USA top of Group A, above Jamaica on goal difference.

St Kitts had been the breakthrough team of the preliminary play-offs, the first ever to qualify from the third tier of the Concacaf Nations League,

Guatemala lose Mendez, miss penalty, but still find enough to dispatch Cuba

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 03:06:25 +0000

By Samindra Kunti in Fort Lauderdale

June 27 – Guatemala sank Cuba with a second-half strike from Darwin Lom to kickstart their Gold Cup campaign in winning fashion.

A substitute, Lom’s 48th-minute cool finish proved to be the difference between the two Group D sides after a cagey first half. Cuba lived up to their nickname as the ‘Lions of the Caribbean’ with organised play and staunch defending, but they offered too little in attack,

Panama make it a hattrick of wins against Costa Rica

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 02:06:29 +0000

By Samindra Kunti in Fort Lauderdale

June 27 – In a clash of Central American giants, Panama carried the momentum from the Nations League group stages forward to defeat Costa Rica for a third time in a row with a routine 2-1 victory.

Costa Rica coach Suarez’s prophecy of a tight match between the two neighbours came true from the kickoff, but ultimately Panama were too strong in the final third and too well organized for Suarez’s XI.

Burner and Fortune fire Martinique past El Salvador

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 01:23:50 +0000

June 27 – Ten-man Martinique upset El Salvador with an accomplished 2-1 victory after early goals from Patrick Burner and Kevin Fortune to claim joint top spot in group C.

Clinical in attack and brave in defense, with an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Yannis Clementia, the island nation won their first Gold Cup match since 2019 to retain a good chance of advancing to the quarter-finals and emulate their best-ever result from 2002 against underwhelming El Salvadorians who failed to ignite.

Mexico start fast as Honduras catch them on the Vegas rebound

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 02:09:14 +0000

By Paul Nicholson in Houston

June 25 – Mexico flowed through a Honduras side in Houston with an emphatic 4-0 win to establish themselves as favourites for their ninth Gold Cup title.

It was an imperious performance against a developing Honduras side who had pulled off some big results in Nations League qualifying but could not match the Mexicans for possession or incisiveness.

Mexico wasted no time getting their campaign underway,

Trinidad and Tobago bring St Kitts down to earth with 3-0 win

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:03:52 +0000

June 25 – St Kitts and Nevis’s winning run was ended by Trinidad and Tobago who beat them 3-0 in the first group game of their Gold Cup finalls debut at the DRV PNK stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It was Trinidad and Tobago’s first Gold Cup group stage win since the 2015 edition. They qualified for the group stage without having to go through the Preliminary play offs after Nicaragua were banned for fielding an illegal player.

Haiti muscle past Qatar with added time win

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 23:57:21 +0000

June 25 – Haiti squeezed past Qatar with a goal in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 crucial opening group win at the NRG Stadium in Houston.

Frantzdy Pierrot was the Haitian hero in a stop start game because of injuries but nevertheless saw chances for both teams to win. Haiti brought their physicality and it just about trumped Qatar’s pass and move game in the final reckoning.

This is the second time Qatar have guested at the Gold Cup having made the semi-finals in 2021 before losing to eventual winners the USA.

The post Haiti muscle past Qatar with added time win appeared first on Inside World Football.

US save themselves with last gasp equaliser against Jamaica in Gold Cup opener

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 04:33:39 +0000

By Samindra Kunti in Chicago

June 24 – The United States rescued a point with a late, close-range strike from substitute Brandon Vasquez in a 1-1 draw with Jamaica in the opening match of the Gold Cup.

For much of the evening, Jamaica were close to spoiling the United States’ opening party after Damion Lowe had given the visitors the lead with a powerful first-half header capitalizing on lax defending by the US but with their backs against the wall,

Mexico looking to build a winning streak as Honduras hunger for return to Gold Cup elite

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:56:44 +0000

June 23 – Mexico go into their Gold Cup 2023 campaign in turmoil. Having unravelled in the 3-0 loss to the USA in the Concacaf Nations League 10 days ago in Las Vegas, the fans and the Mexican media turned on the team and manager Diego Cocca venomously.

Mexico did bounce back to beat Panama 1-0 in third place play off and it is a victory that could prove significant, even if it wasn’t as convincing as Cocca would have wanted.