Mexico is going for the title
For 68 minutes, Guadeloupe showed that it belonged in a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal game as it vigorously competed against heavily-favored Mexico Thursday night.
22/JUN/2007- Pavel Pardo put an end to the compelling underdog story in the 69th minute as his 30-yard shot cruised past two defenders and beat Guadeloupe goalkeeper Franck Grandel high and inside the right post to give Mexico a 1-0 victory in front of 50,790 fans at Soldier Field.
Mexico will play the United States Sunday at 2 p.m. CST in Chicago for the Gold Cup title.
This was a match that many people would have suspected to have seen in group play rather than a possible stepping stone to a CONCACAF Gold Cup title.
After one half of play, the underdogs from the small French territory in the Caribbean showed that they belonged with the big boys of soccer.
Guadeloupe not only had the inevitable task of taking on its heavily-favored opponent but also a boisterous pro-Mexican crowd. After the two teams settled down in the early going, Mexico registered three shots on goal on consecutive possessions.
In the 7th minute, El Tricolor attacker Jared Borgetti chipped a floater to midfielder Alberto Medina who promptly shot it toward the Guadeloupe goal. However, goalkeeper Franck Grandel was able to make the save as he blocked it with his chest ending a possible Mexican score.
Mexico followed up with another shot on goal when attacker Cuauhtemoc Blanco set up Medina but Grandel promptly dropped to his knees and scooped up Medina's attempt in the 8th minute.
In the 10th minute, Blanco was awarded a free kick just outside of the penalty box. Facing a wall of defenders, Blanco was able to give Jose Jonny Magallon a header opportunity but the Grandel was able to once again come through for Guadeloupe.
In the 22nd minute, Carlos Salcido had a great chance as he found himself one-on-one with Grandel on the left side inside the box. Salcido tried to beat the 'keeper but Grandel dove and ripped the ball away from the El Tricolor defender.
Salcido also recorded a shot on goal in the 26th minute, but his shot from 25 yards was again stopped by the Guadeloupe netminder as he dove to his right to impede the ball's progress.
Tempers flared in the 27th minute as Guadeloupe's Richard Edward Socrier was handed a yellow card for arguing with a couple of Mexican players following a foul.
Guadeloupe recorded just one shot on goal in the first half and that was an easy save for Mexican goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez in the 32nd minute.
Terra/Concacaf
1 | 2 | Continúa en la página siguiente >
