Men fall to rival Mexico in Gold Cup title game
The U.S. men failed to follow the example of the American women, showing just how far they are from success.
Jonathan Dos Santos scored in the 73rd minute, and Mexico beat the United States 1-0 Sunday night in Chicago to win its record eighth title in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Despite missing their top three forwards, El Tri dominated possession against an American team playing its first tournament under new coach Gregg Berhalter.
Christian Pulisic, the Americans’ 20-year-old star midfielder, was by far the best U.S. player and used bursts of speed and cutting ability to create chances.
Jordan Morris beat goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa with a 6-yard header from Pulisic’s corner kick in the 51st minute, but Andrés Guardado headed the ball at the goal line.
Cristian Roldan had a chance to tie the score in the 87th minute, but his pointblank shot hit Héctor Moreno on the head and bounced away.
While the crowd in France was overwhelmingly proAmerican as the U.S. beat the Netherlands 2-0 in the Women’s World Cup final earlier in the day, Mexican fans in the crowd of 62,493 made Solider Field seem like Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. Whenever American Zack Steffen took a goal kick, there were loud chants of “puto,” an anti-gay slur.
Copa America Brazil 3, Peru 1
Brazil didn’t need Neymar to win another Copa America title at home.
With its injured star watching from the stands in Rio de Janiero at a packed Maracanã Stadium, Brazil defeated Peru to win its first South American title since 2007 on Sunday.
It was Neymar’s replacement, Everton, who led the team to victory, scoring a goal and setting up another to give Brazil its ninth Copa America trophy, and fifth at home.