CONCACAF 2020 Gold Cup Final

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

CONCACAF Gold Cup Final

 

The Americans and Costa Rica fought for champions of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

 

Joel Campbell hit the woodwork early in the sixth minute with a slicing volley coming in from the right wing.

 

His second effort could be seemed as a one-on-one; however, with defenders streaming down upon his position, his outside of the left boot shot needed a medium quality save but never looked like going in.

 

Offside thwarted the Americans real first attack, with a shot halted by the fact an American was beyond the last defender. Sergino Dest had a ping on goal that went wide of the mark, though the US looked dangerous getting in behind the Costa Rican defensive line.

 

However, Costa Rica used the left wing to their advantage, and attacked multiple times down that way. Then, instead of this, a change to attack down the guts brought about a penalty from a handball stopping Campbell from scoring. Mayron George Clayton easily stepped up and shot down the middle to open the scoring right before the break.

 

Again, Dest had a chance to score to level the match, only to fire wide of the mark.

 

Instead, Costa Rica toyed with the Americans just outside the box, playing keepings off, before Clayton shot again, only for the same Sebastian Lletget to handball the ball as he slid to block the shot. This time, Clayton shot to the left, making the score 2-0.

 

Christian Pulisic looked to turn things around early in the second half with a dribble through the field, only for the shot to deflect off a partial block and an easy save for the Costa Rican goalkeeper.

 

Campbell, instead, made it three goals in the 50th minute, where he was found in the box, went to shoot, only to pull back the ball and shoot after the defender had gone past the intended trajectory.

 

Pulisic tried the same move, only to miss to the right of goal.

 

Ariel Lassiter was brought on for fresh legs, heading the ball to the right of goal, almost making it 4-0.

 

Trying to save face, Joshua Sargent tried for goal, only to have it saved at the last moment, and Gyasi Zardes came off the bench with the follow-up being thwarted.

 

Tyler Adams also came off the bench, but his late header missed dearly. Sargent also brought about a diving save, only for the referee to blow the final whistle. The final score of 3-0 made it a walkover, and a major disappointment for the USA who looked so promising coming into the match.