Mexico Soccer Team Wins Record 5th Gold Cup

The Mexican soccer team has won its record fifth Gold Cup, after beating Team USA, 5-0. After a scoreless first half, Mexico was awarded a penalty kick after a horrible call in the 56th minute. Mexico scored their first goal on the penalty kick. After giving up the first goal, Team USA fell apart. The United States played more aggressively than before, to try to get the equalizer, but gave up two more goals in the next ten minutes. Jose Antonio Castro and Guillermo Franco scored the last two goals in the final fifteen minutes to finish the five goal beatdown. This was the worst home loss that the United States has taken since losing to England, 5-0, in 1985.

Before the Gold Cup this year, Mexico and Team USA were tied with four Gold Cup victories apiece. With the win, the Mexico soccer team won a record fifth Gold Cup, and their first one since 2003. The other years that Mexico won the Gold Cup was in 1993, 1996, and 1998. The United States won their Gold Cups in 1991, 2002, 2005, and 2007.

The Americans completely collapsed in the second half of this game, reminiscent of their collapse in the Confederations Cup final against Brazil. In that game, the American soccer team took a two goal lead at halftime, against the top-ranked Brazilian team, but gave up three unanswered goals in the second half, losing the game 3-2.

American soccer fans should not be discouraged with the five goal loss. The American team was playing with their B Squad against Mexico, and not the A Squad that they played with in the Confederations Cup or the A Squad that they will be playing with in the World Cup Qualifying matches. In this Gold Cup, Team USA did not call up top players: Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, or goaltender Tim Howard. The Americans have been playing at a very high level recently and might be the team to beat if they get into the 2010 World Cup.

Mexico and the United States play again on August 12, and this meeting will be much more important. The meeting between these two teams will be in Mexico City, and is round six of the World Cup qualifying stage. Current standings have United States in second place with ten points, and Mexico is in fourth place with six points, out of the six teams trying to qualify. The top three teams will qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in South Africa. The fourth place team will compete in a home-and-away play-off against the fifth-place team from CONMEBOL. The United States looks almost like a lock to make it to the 2010 World Cup, while Mexico needs the win more, to help their chances.