The CONCACAF Gold Cup continues to gather momentum with the group games past the halfway stage. We’ve already seen some great action, plenty of goals, a superb rearguard action from Trinidad and one of the most spectacular strikes you’re likely to see in 2021.
The United States and Canada have both won their opening two games, as have Jamaica, Honduras, Costa Rica and El Salvador. Favourites Mexico slipped up in their opener against Trinidad and Tobago, but they are still in good shape on four points.
So let’s catch our breath and take a moment to look at the players and teams who have lit up the tournament so far.
Players
Bobby Reid – Jamaica
One of the best CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021 highlights of the opening games came in Jamaica’s 2-0 victory over Suriname.
With the underdogs fighting hard in the opening exchanges and the game in Jamaica’s favour at 1-0, Fulham striker Bobby Reid scored the second to put the match to bed with a long-range volley which whistled past the Suriname stopper and into the net. The Reggae Boyz saw the game out comfortably but their opponents were left smarting from Reid’s stunner for some time!
It’s well worth a watch, so pick it up the highlights as soon as you can, and it’s a nice diversion for Reid who had a difficult season at Fulham as the Cottagers fell through the relegation trap door of the Premier League.
He can concentrate on his international career for the next couple of weeks, and it looks good for Jamaica, who followed up the win with a 2-1 victory over Guadeloupe, this time thanks to a last-gasp winner from Junior Flemmings.
Marvin Phillips – Trinidad and Tobago
Most fans and pundits fully expected tournament favourites Mexico to see off Trinidad and Tobago in the tournament opener. El Tri, at 11th place in the FIFA World Rankings, are a genuine world power in football, and began the game a full 92 places above the minnows from Trinidad and Tobago.
But Mexico fans didn’t account for the determination and strength of Trinidad captain and goalkeeper Marvin Phillip. The 6ft 2in, 36-year old has played 80 games for his country, but few will rank alongside this as he kept a clean sheet against Hector Herrera’s Mexico.
Jesse Williams had Trinidad’s only shot of the game while Mexico rained 20 shots down on Phillip’s goal as the keeper repelled all that came at him and organised his defence to fight like tigers.
Trinidad’s manager Angus Eve masterminded a defensive masterclass to avoid a ninth defeat in his nation’s last 13 games against El Tri. And his goalkeeper confounded all of us here at SBOTOP along with fans around the world!
Mexico recovered to pick up a 3-0 victory over Guatemala. Rogelio Funes Mori found his shooting boots with goals on 29 and 55 minutes and Orbelin Pineda made it three, late in the game.
The pre-tournament CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021 betting odds backed El Tri to win a record ninth Gold Cup and they are still on track, but with wins over Trinidad and Guadeloupe El Salvador have taken advantage to top Group A while Phillips can be mightily proud of his contribution.
Teams
Honduras
Head coach Fabian Coito will be delighted by the start his side has made, taking six points from two games and scoring seven goals in the process. Los Catachros are a decent outside bet for a place in the final and are certainly strong contenders for a semi-final spot on the evidence so far.
They opened up by hammering Grenada 4-0 as veteran striker Jerry Bengston bagged his 22nd international goal for Honduras, and then a second-half onslaught blew Grenada away as Edwin Solano, Johnny Leveron and Romell Quioto made it four.
And we must make a special mention of CF Montreal striker Quioto who scored two more as Honduras came from two goals behind to win a five-goal thriller against Panama. With one more group match to come when Qatar the opponent, it looks highly likely Los Catachros will finish the group at 100 per cent.
Canada
Two 4-1 victories have given John Herdman’s Canada a perfect start. But, in their opener, Emmanuel Riviere gave Martinique a shock tenth-minute lead before goals from Cyle Larin, Jonathan Osorio, and Stephen Eustaquio made it 3-1 by the break before Theodor Corbeanu rounded things off in the 89th minute.
Last Friday the 16th July, Larin bagged a brace to make it three for the tournament in Canada’s 4-1 win over Haiti, while Eustaquio was on target again and Junior Hoilett rounded off another strong performance.
Next up, Canada face USA in a battle for the top of Group B. The Stars and Stripes signalled their intentions with a 6-1 destruction of Martinique when Barnsley striker
Daryl Dyke scored twice in the rout, and Emanuel Riviere was Martinique’s man on the spot to grab another consolation.
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