The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF), and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to 24, 2007.
This competition was the third overall edition of the tournament without guests (for the first time since 1993) from other confederations. As the winner, the United States represented CONCACAF at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.[note 1]
The 12 national teams involved in the tournament were required to register a squad of 23 players; only players in these squads were eligible to take part in the tournament.
Competition format
The twelve teams that qualified were divided into three groups. The top two teams in each group advanced to the knockout stage along with the best two of the third-place teams, filling out the knockout field of eight.
If teams were level on points, they were ranked on the following criteria in order:
Head to head matches between the tied teams (if applicable)
Greatest goal difference in group matches
Greatest number of goals scored in the three group matches
If teams are still tied, CONCACAF will hold a drawing of lots
Canada finished as group leaders, but were beaten by Guadeloupe, who also drew with Haiti before suffering a defeat in their last match against Costa Rica. That win sent the Ticos through to the next round; Guadeloupe also qualified as one of the best two third-place finishers. Haiti, the current Caribbean Nations Cup champions, were knocked out at the group stage. All games were played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.
The group was won by the host and defending Gold Cup champion United States side, who achieved the best first-round record of any team with three wins, during which it scored a total of seven goals without conceding. Guatemala finished in second place, despite an early loss to the U.S., by beating fellow Central Americans El Salvador, and then drawing with Trinidad and Tobago. El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago failed to advance. All games were played at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Four-time Gold Cup champion Mexico were defeated 2–1 by eventual group winner Honduras on the second day of group play, but subsequently beat Panama to come second in the group. The controversial match saw two Canaleros sent off but they still made the quarterfinals by finishing as one of the two best third-placed teams. Cuba, initially impressive against Mexico and Panama, finished in last place, after being defeated 5–0 by Honduras. All games were played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey and Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Two members of the Cuban team, striker Lester Moré and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, defected from the team following a shopping trip in East Rutherford.
The quarterfinals saw all three North American teams advance, as Canada beat Guatemala, the United States defeated Panama, and Mexico won after extra time against Costa Rica in a controversial match that saw three red cards for the Ticos. Guadeloupe reached the final four with a 2–1 victory over Honduras. Their participation ended in the semifinal against Mexico, as El Tri overcame Guadeloupe to win 1–0 and make the Gold Cup final. The United States won the other semifinal game, defeating Canada 2–1 in a match with a controversial ending, as a late Canadian equalizer was incorrectly ruled offside. The final match between Mexico and the United States, the two highest-ranked teams in CONCACAF, resulted in a 2–1 victory, and a successful title defense, for the United States.
Late in the second half, while leading 2–1, the United States were reduced to ten men when Michael Bradley was sent off. In stoppage time Atiba Hutchinson appeared to score for Canada to tie the game in the dying seconds, but linesman Ricardo Louisville incorrectly raised his flag for offside and referee Archundia disallowed the goal. The Canadian Press reported that replays show Hutchinson in an onside position at the time of Patrice Bernier's pass, and that he received the ball only after it was played by American defender Oguchi Onyewu.[1][2]
Donovan converted a penalty kick to level the match at 1–1 and tied him with Eric Wynalda for the USA’s all-time scoring record with 34 goals. Feilhaber scored the game-winning goal on a volley from outside the penalty box.
The All-Tournament Team was selected by the CONCACAF Technical Study Group and features the "Best XI" along with seven Honorable Mentions. The player selections were made from the eight teams that reached the quarterfinals of the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[3]
Per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-out are counted as draws.
United States (4th title)
Mexico
Carlos Pavón
Julian De Guzman
Franck Grandel
Haiti
Trinidad and Tobago
Cuba
Costa Rica
Panama
Guatemala
El Salvador
56'
