The Gold Cup at Rio Tinto: My Experience.

Kyle Beckerman provided another quality ball for a Wondo goal (SL Tribune)

First off, I'd like to thank everyone at Rio Tinto Stadium, Real Salt Lake, and US Soccer for working to bring the US Men's National Team to Utah not once, but twice this summer for World Cup Qualifying and the Gold Cup.  It really was a special opportunity for the soccer fans in Utah, and I am very glad that I took advantage.

The ride down to the RioT from Ogden was punctuated with good news.  It was announced that all three of our RSL men, Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, and Tony Beltran would start for the national team against Cuba.  That was certainly a nice present for all of the RSL fans heading to the RioT.  Once we arrived we took our seats in the South end, front row, right at the bottom of the boom cam that was being used for the TV broadcast.  Our season tickets for RSL are in section 30, so it was interesting to get this view.  I hadn't sat in the south end since my first game at the RioT in 2010, after I moved back from Florida.

The start of the match was hammered by thunder and a pretty good sized cloud burst, but it didn't dampen the spirits of the American Outlaws, who were in the same section.  We joined the chants as the match got underway.  Overall I'd say the crowd and the "atmosphere" were better for this match than they were for the World Cup Qualifier.  There was definitely more chanting and YSA only reared it's head a couple of times.  After that, "USA" seemed to be the popular chant by most folks in the south end on goal kicks.

The first half wasn't what you would call glorious from the USA.  They had plenty of possession, but failed to make a connection in the final third.  Then the unthinkable happened. Late in the first half Cuba went on a counter attack, torched our left side, and managed to sneak a goal past Nick to give Cuba a 0-1 lead.  That seemed to wake the US up though.  Just a few minutes later they earned a PK, which Landon Donovan promptly converted to tie the match at 1-1.  The shouts of "USA, USA" became somewhat deafening from the Rio Tinto crowd, it was, just for a minute, one of the loudest chants I've heard in many games at the RioT.

The US took charge in the second half.  Brek Shea went out, and I'm sorry to say for him that it was a pretty dismal performance.  He didn't look great from where I sat in the south end, but when I got home and watched the broadcast, the scope of his failure was all to clear.  The Yanks earned several quality set piece chances early in the second half, but they weren't able to convert.  Finally Joe Corona hit a gorgeous goal in the 57th minute to give the USA the lead.  Corona looked great throughout the match.  Chris Wondolowski checked in and provided the USA with two more goals, including one off of a great pass from Kyle Beckerman, to make the final margin 4-1 and send the US folks home happy.

But wait, there's more.  In the second game of the double header, Alvaro Saborio started for Costa Rica against Belize.  I'd say about 2/3 of the crowd left after the USA match.  Many of the remaining folks filed over to the west side of the stadium to get out of the sun.  I should have done that, as I ended up with a second degree sunburn.  Oh well, I regret that I have but one epidermis to burn for my country.

The match wasn't great by any stretch and Costa Rica were obviously the better side, but still Belize managed to keep them out of the net into the second half.  The Ticos' lone goal came in the 49th minute in the form of an own goal from a Belize defender, and it was all Costa Rica would need.  Belize had a great chance to equalize in stoppage time from a corner kick, but the header just missed and Costa Rica sealed the 1-0 win.

The victories for both the USA and Costa Rica seal knockout round places for them heading into the last group match in Hartford, where they will face off.  That happens tonight, but I'm still caught up in the glow of watching my national team, and it's representatives from my club, shine in my stadium!  This summer of International soccer is something I'll never forget.

2013 Gold Cup Day 3: Costa Rica and USA Roll

Chris Wondolowski earned a hat-trick in a 6-1 mauling of Belize

Jeld-Wen Field, the home of the Portland Timbers, took center stage in Gold Cup action Tuesday night as Costa Rica took on Cuba and the USA took on Belize, who were playing in their first ever Gold Cup match.  The results of both of these matches were predictable, as the Group C favorites avoided the pitfalls that hit Mexico and Canada on Sunday.

The first match between Costa Rica and Cuba wasn't quite a sparkling affair, but Cuba certainly had a lot to play for as they came in winless in their last 11 Gold Cup matches.   Costa Rica controlled the match with 68% possession and did not allow a single corner kick for Cuba.  The Ticos left it late though, not scoring until Michael Barrantes netted in the 51st minute.  Jairo Arrieta of the Columbus Crew scored in the 71st, and Barrantes completed his brace in the 77th minute to make the full time score 3-0.  Of interest to RSL fans, Alvaro Saborio started for the Ticos and played 79 minutes, coming out after the final goal was scored.

The nightcap in Portland featured the opening match of the tournament for the United States as they took on Gold Cup newbies Belize.  The Stars and Stripes were riding high after blasting Guatemala 6-0 in a friendly before the tournament and looked to inflict more goals on Belize.  They did just that.  It was a Tahitiesque performance from Belize, even though they did manage to sneak in a goal off a blown coverage in the first half.  However Chris Wondolowski scored a first half hat-trick, including one off of a fine ball from Kyle Beckerman, to make the half time score 3-1.

The USA didn't look back in the second as Stu Holden came in for Beckerman and gave the team a more offensive minded approach.  He scored in the in the 58th minute, and Michael Orozco added another in the 72nd.  Landon Donovan added a PK goal in the 76th minute to complete the destruction and make the full time result 6-1.  It was a impressive performance from the USA, especially on offense.  The defense wasn't tested much, but to me they still looked a little less than solid, especially on the blown mark that led to the goal.

A shadow has been cast over this match though, and maybe over the tournament as a whole.  That shadow is the one cast by international betting and match fixing.  According to 7 News Belize, 3 players, including their goalkeeper, were approached by a man in Guatemala offering them money to throw the match.  The players have said that they did not accept the advances, but it does make one wonder about the result. 

Group C continues on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium as the USA face Cuba and Costa Rica will take on the aforementioned Belize.  I'll be there, and you can be too!  Tickets are still available!

Gold Cup: Costa Rica vs. Cuba

The disparity between these two teams seemed evident coming in via the FIFA Rankings. Costa Rica is 56th, Cuba 81st. By the end of the day, the disparity would show on the scoreboard as well at Cowboy Stadium.

Honestly it looked like Cuba might hold their own through the opening minutes. They had some possession, but while they weren't really putting any pressure on the Costa Rican defense, they weren't giving it up to Costa Rica either. The men in red did get a couple of chances on the break, but no goals early.

Then Costa Rica got possession and you could feel the goals coming. Cuba's defense must have stayed in Havana for this one. In the 7th minute, Urena knifed through the previously mentioned poor Cuban defense, and put it past a bewildered keeper to make it 1-0 to Costa Rica.

Things didn't get any better for the Cubans throughout the rest of the first half either. The match commentary reads as one Costa Rican shot after another. In the 23rd minute RSL's Alvaro Saborio came very close, but dinked it off the post. Sabo put one in the net in the 37th, minute only to have it called back for offside. Finally Sabo got the goal in the 41st to put Costa Rica up 2-0 at the break.

Cuba must not have fancied their chances in the 2nd half, but turns out they stayed in locker room. At least their defense did. Costa Rica doubled their lead, scoring two goals in the first 2 minutes. One by Urena again, and the other by Mora to make 4-0. The Cuban keeper looked like he was gonna cry. Can't blame him, he got no help from his defense.

The goal of the match came in the 71st. Campbell, who had previously missed for Costa Rica, found himself totally unmarked on the angle. He made a gorgeous strike and put it in the corner far post to seal the victory for Costa Rica, 5-0.

All in all, pretty easy match for Costa Rica. They got their stars a nice run out and some goals. That nice goal differential could come in handy later in the tournament. From a RSL fan's perspective, it was great to see Sabo play well and score. I don't really see Cuba giving anyone any trouble in the tournament. Sorry, just calling it like I see it.