2005 CONCAF Gold Cup set to begin next week

Published on June 28, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1) News Release

The eighth edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ will take place in a record seven stadiums in six cities across the USA from 6-24 July. The 2005 event features more games in more cities than ever before will once again crown the region's top national team. Download Match Schedule

Group A, the first of three First Round Groups, which will be based in Miami's Orange Bowl, contains Central American Qualifiers Honduras and Panama, Trinidad & Tobago from the Caribbean and one of two guest teams, Colombia.

In Group B, playing games in Seattle's Qwest Field before moving to the Gillette Stadium in Foxboro near Boston, includes Central American champions Costa Rica, both Canada and the USA from North America and Cuba from the Caribbean.

The final group, Group C, will see games between the other guest team, South Africa, Central American qualifier, Guatemala, recently- crowned Caribbean champions, Jamaica and the reigning CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ champions Mexico. Group C games take place in two venues in the Los Angeles Area, Carson's Home Depot Center and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, before moving to Reliant Stadium in Houston for the last day of first round play.

The quarterfinal matches, taking place on Saturday, 16 July (two games in Foxboro), and Sunday, 17 July (two games in Houston) will comprise of the first and second-placed team from each of the three groups

along with the two best-finishing third-place teams.

The 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ semifinals and final are scheduled for Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Thursday, 21 July and Sunday, 24 July, respectively.

SCOUTING THE TEAMS...

CANADA: Making their seventh appearance at the CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ but first under the direction of Frank Yallop ... Reached the semifinals in 2002, losing to the USA 4:2 on penalties, but then the maple leafs went on defeat Korea Republic 2:1 in the third-place match ... Claimed their first international honour in over 100 years of football by winning the 2000 Gold Cup, defeating Colombia 2:0 in the finals.

COLOMBIA: One of the two invited teams competing, is taking part in their third Gold Cup event ... Colombia reached the 2000 tournament final but fell 2:0 to Canada ... After winning the 2001 Copa América, the cafeteros advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ but lost 2:0 against Brazil ... Colombia is guided by technical director Reinaldo Rueda.

COSTA RICA: Winners of the UNCAF (Central America) Nations Cup in Guatemala this past February, Costa Rica are in their seventh Gold Cup tournament in 2005 ... The five-time UNCAF champions earned their best Gold Cup performance in 2002 losing in the finals to the USA 2:0 ... The ticos are the Central American team with the most appearances in the tournament's semifinals (four) ... Alexandre Guimaraes, who led Costa Rica to the 2002 FIFA World Cupâ¢ in Korea/Japan, is once again back at the helm.

CUBA: One of three qualifiers from the Caribbean, Cuba is making their third consecutive and fourth overall trip to the Gold Cup ... Cuba missed out on the 2000 tournament after finishing third to second-placer Haiti (on the head-to-head tiebreaker) in the CONCACAF Interzone Playoffs ... The cubanos claimed their first tournament victory (2:0 against Canada) and a berth to the Gold Cup quarterfinals in 2003 ... Technical director Armelio Luis Garcia has been in charge of Cuba since last year.

GUATEMALA: Under technical director Ramón Maradiaga, Guatemala hosted the 2005 UNCAF Nations Cup and finished third, while earning one of the four Central American berths to the CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ ... The chapines have made six previous appearances at the CONCACAF event, earning their best performance in 1996 claiming fourth-place.

HONDURAS: Were runners-up at the 2005 UNCAF Nations Cup held in Guatemala and earned their seventh berth to the CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ ... The catrachos best finish at the CONCACAF event was second-place, losing a 4:3 penalty kick thriller to the USA in the 1991 final ... Honduras is once again guided by technical director Jose De La Paz.

JAMAICA: Won the 2005 CFU Digicel Cup and is one of the three qualifiers from the Caribbean at this year's CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ ... The reggae boyz reached the tournament's semifinals on two occasions (1993, 1998) ... Jamaica's best finish came in 1993 as they shared the bronze medal with Costa Rica after both played to a 1:1 draw in the third-place game ... Technical director Wendell Downswell is in charge of the squad.

MEXICO: The defending champions are competing in their eighth CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ ... Mexico was the first team to capture four titles (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003) and is one of only two CONCACAF teams (other USA) to always advance out of the first round ... The tricolor are the only team to capture two tournament crowns (1996, 2003) without conceding a goal ... Mexico have also not allowed a goal in their last 601 minutes during the Gold Cup ... Ricardo LaVolpe has been the technical director for the tricolor since 2003.

PANAMA: Are making their first appearance at the Gold Cup in more then a decade after going winless in 1993 tournament ... Panana is one of four Central American nations to progress to the CONCACAF event after reaching the semifinals of the 2005 UNCAF Nations Cup in Guatemala ... The canaleros are led by technical director Jose HernÃ¡ndez.

SOUTH AFRICA: Second guest team at the Gold Cup, South Africa is also the first African nation to compete at the event ... Under the guidance of Stuart Baxter, South Africa's participation in the CONCACAF tournament falls into the long term goal of building the squad as they prepare to stage the 2010 FIFA World Cupâ¢ ... Bafana Bafana also hosted and captured the 1996 African Nations Cup having become a member of FIFA four years earlier.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: One of the three qualifiers from the Caribbean are making their fifth overall appearance at the Gold Cup ... Despite winning the Caribbean crown on eight occasions, Trinidad & Tobago's best performance at the CONCACAF event was reaching the semifinals in 2000 ... Leo Beenhakker is at the helm of the soca warriors.

USA: One of two nations (other Mexico) to have played in all seven previous Gold Cups but have only won the CONCACAF event twice (1991, 2002) ... The stars & stripes have the most victories in tournament play with 24 and are the only CONCACAF team to win all their first round group matches for a perfect 16-0 since 1991 ... Technical director Bruce Arena has been at the helm since 1998.

DEADLINE IS SUNDAY FOR MEDIA ACCREDITATION

The deadline for 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ media accreditation applications (Print, Photographers, non-rights holders - TV, Radio Website) is scheduled for this Sunday, 3 July 2005.

The credential application is currently available online at www.CONCACAF.com or the tournament site www.goldcup.org. NO CREDENTIAL APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DEADLINE.

In the light of heightened security measures throughout the USA, a color passport photo MUST accompany all applications. A digital version can be attached to the online application form in the appropriate field.

2005 FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP

MEXICO TO MEET GERMANY FOR THIRD-PLACE HONOURS ON WEDNESDAY

Mexico will look to win the third-place honours at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup as they meet the host Germany at Zentralstadion in Leipzig on Wednesday, 29 June.

The tricolor have to settle for competing in the third-place match after losing 6:5 on penalties to Argentina in the semifinals at Niedersachsenstadion in Hanover on 26 June.

2005 CONCACAF UNDER-17 FINAL ROUND

CONCACAF PLAYOFFS COMENCE THIS WEEK

The playoff fixtures between Costa Rica and Honduras that will decide the third CONCACAF berth to the 2005 FIFA Under-17 World Championship is set to begin this week.

Costa Rica will host the first-leg of the home-and-away series at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San José on 29 June, while Honduras is staging the return-leg at the Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino in Tegucigalpa on 3 July.

Costa Rica and Honduras advanced to the CONCACAF U-17 Playoff Series after they each finished second in their respective Final Round Groups (A & B).

The playoff series victor will join Final Round Groups A & B winners, USA and Mexico, respectively, as the CONCACAF representatives at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship to be played in Peru from 16 September - 2 October.

2005 FIFA WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

OWN GOALS ELIMINATE USA FROM FIFA WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Two own goals eliminated the USA from the âRound of 16' at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships after losing a 3:1 decision to Italy at the Het Diekman Stadium in Enschede, Netherlands on 21 June.

Hunter Freeman gave the stars & stripes a 1:0 lead with a penalty kick goal with a minute remaining in the first half.

An own goal by the USA's Patrick Ianni leveled the match for Italy in the 54th minute of the second half. After Graziano Pelle gave the azzurri a 2:1 advantage in the 62nd minute-mark, the stars & stripes scored another own goal (Sacha Kljestan's tally) 13 minutes later making it a 3:1 final score.

AROUND THE CONFEDERATION

CONCACAF TEAMS TO COMPETE IN 2005 COPA SUDAMERICANA

CONCACAF confirmed this week that Mexican clubs' Pumas UNAM and Club América along with D.C. United of USA will compete at CONMEBOL's 2005 Copa Sudamericana.

The CONCACAF teams, who will take part for the first time in the CONMEBOL event, will enter the tournament in the âRound-of-16' scheduled to start in mid-September.

After winning the 2005 Mexican League Torneo de Clausura, Club América will face winner of the Copa Sudamericana First Round Series 2 that features clubs from Colombia and Venezuela.

Meanwhile, Pumas UNAM, who finished second in the 2005 CONCACAF Champions' Cup to automatically qualified to participate in the tournament, are scheduled to face the victor from the Series 3 which has squads from Bolivia and Ecuador.

D.C. United, the defending Major League Soccer Champion, will take on the winner from Series 4 First Round that includes clubs from Chile and Peru.

COSTA RICA FALLS TO CHINA IN FRIENDLY; CANADA HOST HONDURAS

Costa Rica, who will compete in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cupâ¢ next month, were beaten by the host China 2:0 in an international friendly at the Tian He Stadium in Guangzhou on 22 June.

This was the second match between the two squads with the first one ending in a 2:2 tie at the He Long Sports Center in Changsha on 19 June.

Meanwhile, another two teams in preparations for the Gold Cup, Canada and Honduras meet in an international friendly at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia on 2 July.

USA WOMEN DEFEAT CANADA IN FRIENDLY

Goals by Lori Chalupny and Christie Welsh led the USA women's team to a 2:0 victory over visiting Canada in an international friendly at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 26 June.

The stars & stripes continue their home-stand when they face the Ukraine at the Harry A. Merlo Field in Portland, Oregon on 10 July and then take on Iceland 14 days later, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

NATIONAL LEAGUES

CSD MUNICIPAL WINS 2005 TORNEO DE CLAUSURA IN GUATEMALA

CSD Municipal won the 2005 Primera División's Torneo de Clausura in Guatemala after defeating Deportivo Suchitepéquez 5:2 on aggregate in the two-game final over the weekend.

After taking the first-leg 1:0 on a goal by Fredy Garcia last Wednesday in Mazatengango, CSD Municipal won the second-leg 4:2 over Deportivo Suchitepéquez at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Ciudad de Guatemala on Sunday. Juan Carlos Plata had all four goals for CSD Municipal on Sunday, while Glen Brown and Pablo Meglar had the only tallies for Deportivo Suchitepéquez in the loss.

CSD Municipal also becomes the club with the most Guatemalan Championships at 22, with CSD Comunicaciones second with 21 and Aurora FC third with eight titles.

CD F.A.S. CLAIMS 2005 LIGA MAYOR CLAUSURA TITLE IN EL SALVADOR

CD F.A.S. claimed the El Salvador's 2005 Liga Mayor Clausura Title after posting a 2:1 overtime victory over Luis Ãngel Firpo in the final in San Salvador on 26 June.

This is CD F.A.S. 16th overall league title in El Salvador and its fifth in their last seven seasons.

FOR THE RECORD

2005 CONCACAF GOLD CUPâ¢

Group A

06.07.2005: Miami, Florida USA; Orange Bowl (19:00)

COLOMBIA - PANAMA

06.07.2005: Miami, Florida USA; Orange Bowl (21:00)

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - HONDURAS

09.07.2005: Miami, Florida USA; Orange Bowl (19:00)

PANAMA - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

09.07.2005: Miami, Florida USA; Orange Bowl (21:00)

HONDURAS - COLOMBIA

11.07.2005: Miami, Florida USA; Orange Bowl (19:00)

COLOMBIA - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

11.07.2005: Miami, Florida USA; Orange Bowl (21:00)

HONDURAS - PANAMA

Group B

07.07.2005: Seattle, Washington USA; Qwest Field (17:30)

CANADA - COSTA RICA

07.07.2005: Seattle, Washington USA; Qwest Field (19:30)

CUBA - USA

09.07.2005: Seattle, Washington USA; Qwest Field (11:30)

COSTA RICA - CUBA

09.07.2005: Seattle, Washington USA; Qwest Field (13:30)

USA - CANADA

12.07.2005: Foxboro, Massachusetts USA; Gillette Stadium (19:00)

USA - COSTA RICA

12.07.2005: Foxboro, Massachusetts USA; Gillette Stadium (21:00)

CANADA - COSTA RICA

Group C

08.07.2005: Carson, California USA; Home Depot Center (19:00)

SOUTH AFRICA - MEXICO

08.07.2005: Carson, California USA; Home Depot Center (21:00)

GUATEMALA - JAMAICA

10.07.2005: Los Angeles, California USA; L.A. Memorial Coliseum (12:00)

MEXICO - GUATEMALA

10.07.2005: Los Angeles, California USA; L.A. Memorial Coliseum (14:00)

JAMAICA - SOUTH AFRICA

13.07.2005: Houston, Texas USA; Reliant Stadium (19:00)

GUATEMALA - SOUTH AFRICA

13.07.2005: Houston, Texas USA; Reliant Stadium (21:00)

MEXICO - JAMAICA

2005 FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP Group B 22.06.2005: Frankfurt, GERMANY; Waldstadion (A: 31285)

GREECE - MEXICO 0:0

Booked: Ioannis AMANTIDIS 8', Efstathios TAVLARDIS 85' - Pavel PARDO 39', Juan Pablo RODRIGUEZ 47'

R: Carlos AMARILLA (PAR)

Semifinals 26.06.2005: Hanover, GERMANY; Niedersachsenstadion (A: 40718) MEXICO - ARGENTINA 1:1 (0:0), 5:6 pen

Carlos SALCIDO 104' - Luciano FIGUEROA 110' Luis Ernesto PEREZ (G), Pavel PARDO (G), Jared BORGETTI (G), Carlos SALCIDO (G), Gonzalo PINEDA (G), Ricardo OSORIO (SV) - Juan RIQUELME (G), Maximiliano RODRIGUEZ (G), Pablo AIMAR (G), Luciano GALLETTI (G), Juan SORIN (G), Esteban CAMBIASSO (G)

Booked: Rafael MARQUEZ 21', Gonzalo PINEDA 49', Alberto MEDINA 102', Carlos SALCIDO 105' - Gabriel MILITO 10', Fabricio COLOCCINI 69'

Sent offs: Rafael MARQUEZ 93' - Javier SAVIOLA 90'

R: Roberto ROSETTI (ITA)

Third Place

29.06.2005: Leipzig, GERMANY; Zentralstadion (17:45)

GERMANY - MEXICO

2005 FIFA WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP Round of 16 21.06.2005: Enschede, NETHERLANDS; Het Diekman Stadium (A: 7000) USA - ITALY 1:3 (1:0)

Hunter FREEMAN 44' pen - OG 54', 75'; Graziano PELLE 62'

Booked: Greg DALBY 45' - Daniele GALLOPPA 11', Marino DEFENDI 31', Lino MARZORATTI 57', Emiliano VIVIANO 87'

R: Esam ABD EL FATAH (EGY)

2005 CONCACAF UNDER-17 FINAL ROUND Playoff 29.06.2005: San José, COSTA RICA; Estadio Ricardo Saprissa (19:00)

COSTA RICA - HONDURAS

R: Joel AGUILAR (SLV)

03.07.2005: Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS; Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino (16:00)

HONDURAS - COSTA RICA

R: Ruben CASTELLANOS (GUA)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Friendlies 22.06.2005: Guangzhou, CHINA; Tian He Stadium (A: 15000)

CHINA - COSTA RICA 2:0 (1:0)

Zheng ZHI 44' pen; Xie HUI 54'

R: Yu Byung SEOB (KOR)

02.07.2005: Vancouver, British Columbia CANADA; Swangard Stadium (19:00)

CANADA - HONDURAS

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

Friendlies

26.06.2005: Virginia Beach, Virginia USA; Virginia Beach Sportsplex (A: 3215)

USA - CANADA 2:0 (2:0)

Lori CHALUPNY 12'; Christie WELSH 35'

R: Rachel WOO (USA)

10.07.2005: Portland, Oregon USA; Harry A. Merlo Field (15:30)

USA - UKRAINE

24.07.2005: Carson, California USA; Home Depot Center (14:00)

USA - ICELAND

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email

USL First Division Stories from June 28, 2005

USL announces Teams of the Week - USL-1
Lady Lynx battle for first place - Toronto Lynx
Sounders match moved to Starfire Sports Complex - Seattle Sounders
2005 CONCAF Gold Cup set to begin next week - USL-1
U.S. Open Cup fever continues - Richmond Kickers

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.