Americans win soccer gold cup for fourth time

CHICAGO – Change the venue, change the coaches, change the players. The only thing that doesn’t change when Mexico and the United States play is the result.

Landon Donovan scored his 34th career goal, tying Eric Wynalda atop the career list, and Benny Feilhaber connected on a gorgeous volley as the United States rallied for a 2-1 victory over Mexico on Sunday in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

The victory extended the Americans’ dominance over their neighbors to the south and gave them a berth in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, an important tuneup ahead of the 2010 World Cup. The United States is 9-2-1 against Mexico since 2000, including 8-0-1 on U.S. soil.

Mexico at least managed a goal this time, snapping a streak of eight straight shutouts in the United States. Jose Andres Guardado’s goal in the 44th minute was El Tri’s first on U.S. soil in 797 minutes.

Mexico had a chance to tie it in the 89th minute when Adolfo Bautista came up with a loose ball in front of the goal. But goalkeeper Tim Howard reached up as he was falling, and punched the ball free to preserve the win.

The teams failed to shake hands after the final whistle, another recent “tradition” in this rivalry. Instead, the Americans ran over to Sam’s Army – really more of a platoon – to salute the small contingent of U.S. fans in the sellout crowd of 60,000. Donovan tossed his shirt into the stands, then grabbed a U.S. flag that a fan tossed and wrapped it around his shoulders.

This is the fourth Gold Cup title for the Americans, tying them with Mexico.

Mexico jumped out to a first-half lead, and the Americans were forced to play catch up, something they’re not used to. But they got a break in the 60th minute, when Brian Ching was tripped up in the box by Jose Jonny Magallon. Compared to the other rough-and-tumble antics Sunday, this barely looked like a foul. Magallon tugged at Ching’s jersey, and the two tangled feet as Ching turned around.

But it was all Donovan needed.

Donovan, the U.S. player Mexican fans most love to boo, took a slow jog to the ball and appeared to barely give it much of a kick. But Mexico goalie Oswaldo Sanchez started to move to his right, then hesitated, and that split second cost hm any chance he had of getting to the ball, which hit the right corner of the net for Donovan’s fourth goal of the tournament, all on penalty kicks.