Mexico gets past U.S. to grab Gold Cup title
The U.S. men’s national team failed to follow the example of American women, showing just how far the men are from success.
Jonathan Dos Santos scored in the 73rd minute, and Mexico beat the United States 10 in Chicago on Sunday night 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 coach Gregg Berhalter.
Christian Pulisic, the Americans’ 20yearold 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 6yard header from Pulisic’s corner kick in the 51st minute, but Andres 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 Hector Moreno on the head and bounced away.
Though the crowd in France was proAmerican as the U.S. beat the Netherlands 20 in the Women’s World Cup final earlier in the day, Mexican fans in green, white and red in the crowd of 62,493 made Solider Field seem like Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.
Mexico scored on a move started by Dos Santos, who plays in Major League Soccer for the LA Galaxy. He passed the ball to Rodolfo Pizarro, who switched from the left flank to the right in the second half. Pizarro crossed in the penalty area where Raul Jimenez played a backheel pass to Dos Santos, who had continued his run. His leftfooted shot went by the outstretched arm of Steffen for just his third goal in 46 international appearances.
The U.S. has been rebuilding under Berhalter, the first American to coach the national team after playing in the World Cup for the U.S. Qualifying for the 2022 World Cup will not start until next summer, leaving the biennial championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean as the first measuring test for a team whose streak of World Cup appearances ended at seven when it failed to make the field in Russia last year.
Mexico was playing in its first tournament under coach Tata Martino. It has not lost a competitive match to the U.S. since 2013, reestablishing itself as the region’s power.
Brazil wins Copa America: The host nation won 31 in Rio de Janeiro to take its first Copa America title since 2007. Everton, Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison each scored a goal to give Brazil its ninth South American championship at a packed Maracana Stadium.
Peru scored on a Paolo Guerrero penalty kick but couldn’t pull off one last upset after eliminating Uruguay in the quarterfinals and twotime defending champion Chile in the semifinals.
Brazil, playing the tournament without the injured Neymar, was with 10 men from the 70th minute because Gabriel Jesus was sent off with a second yellow card.
Brazil has won the Copa America all five times it hosted the tournament.
MLS: Bradley WrightPhillips scored the game’s second stoppagetime goal to help the visiting New York Red Bulls tie Atlanta United 33 . ... Rookie Santiago Patino scored his first MLS goal, Brian Rowe made five saves, including a diving stop in injury time, and visiting Orlando City tied the Philadelphia Union 22 . ... Sebastian Blanco scored his first goal in more than two months to push the visiting Portland Timbers past New York City FC 10.