The game day festivities were made even better by the 2-0 win that our team was able to secure over the visiting Canadians. In the next game of the group stage the Yanks had a very lack luster and uninspired performance against Panama that saw the US lose their first ever Gold Cup group stage game 2-1. With a spot in the quarter finals on the line we needed a win of any kind against Guadalupe to get through. The team did not play as well as we all thought they would against Guadalupe, but they did get a super strike from Jozy Altidore in the ninth minute and would hold onto that 1-0 score for the win. In the quarters the US would face one of the hottest teams in the tournament...Jamaica. This was probably the best performance of the tournament by the Yanks so far. They held the ball for most of the game and were able to put a lot of pressure on the Jamaican back line. Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey would provide their teams two second half goals to advance them to the semis and into a rematch with Panama giving them a chance at some revenge. Team USA came out with a lot more energy and determination in their semi-final rematch against Panama and were able to create some chances in the first half and keep the Panamanians out of the offensive third of the field much of the time. In the 76th minute of the game Texas native Clint Dempsey tipped in a centering pass from Landon Donavon giving the US a 1-0 lead at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
The win against Panama sets up the much anticipated USA vs. Mexico final to be held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday night for the right to raise the Gold Cup and a spot at the Confederations Cup in Brazil in 2013. I am sure that there are a lot of experts picking El Tri to win, and win going away against the Yanks, and to be honest i cant argue with the way the Mexicans are playing right now. But this is why soccer is one of the most exciting games to watch. In the 2009 Confederations Cup semi-final against Spain no one gave team USA a chance, the US won 2-0 and advanced to their first ever final in a FIFA tournament. In the final of that tournament against the mighty Brazil team they were given even less of a chance. Yes they didn't win eventually losing to the Samba masters 3-2, but they ran out to a 2-0 lead just as they had against Spain in the previous game. This showed soccer fans around the world that regardless of where the USA is ranked or how talented are players are thought to be we come with a warning DON'T TREAD ON ME.
Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world and check this video of the American Outlaws marching to Ford Field on game day (2:20 is your humble author)
Drew in the D
