By Paul Nicholson
July 23 – The Gold Cup is now shifting from the hectic daily schedule of double header group games to the quarter finals this weekend in Glendale, Arizona, and Arlington, Texas. Big stadiums worthy of big achievements, something that this Gold Cup has been delivering with regularity.
July 23 – The first Gold Cup quarter final double header takes place in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday in front of a sell out crowd. El Salvador meet Qatar, followed by Mexico vs Honduras.
July 23 –Sunday night will be the first big test of the USA’s gamble to send their European players back to their clubs Europe in favour of a majority MLS-recruited team. It will also see whether Canada have progressed enough to make the big tournament step up.
July 21 – Univision is reporting its highest viewing figure in the US for the group stages of the Gold Cup since 2011 and overall a 25% increase across matches aired so far.
July 22 – Tickets have sold out for the Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final doubleheader at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to be played this Saturday July 24.
Group D: Qatar 2 Honduras 0
July 21 – Qatar went into this final Group D fixture at the BBVA Stadium in Houston needing a point to qualify and set up a quarter final match up with Mexico. A win would hand that assignment to Honduras. It was another night of pulsating football in a Gold Cup that has overflowed with drama on the pitch, and on occasion off it.
Group C: Jamaica 0 Costa Rica 1; Suriname 1 Guadeloupe 0
July 21 – Jamaica and Costa Rica were only at the start of their battle for the top spot in Group C in Orlando when the players were called from the pitch in the fourth minute. A bad weather warning had forced the players from the pitch and the crowd for the stands as the rain poured down.
July 20 – Honduras face Qatar in Houston tonight in a final Group D tie that will decide not just the group winners but who they meet in the next round. The winners will meet Group A runners-up El Salvador in the next round and avoid tournament favourites Mexico.
July 20 -The top spot in Group C is up for grabs with Costa Rica and Jamaica playing off.
Group A: Mexico 1 El Salvador 0
By Jhannet Sanchez in Dallas, Texas
July 18 – With 45,792 fans in the stands, the concluding group stage match of Group A took place at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas, last night. The group decider saw reigning Gold Cup champions Mexico face group leaders El Salvador in a must-win game for the Mexicans to secure the top spot and most favourable quarter final opposition.
Group D: Canada 0 USA 1
July 18 – The top of table clash in Group B table between the US and Canada at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City exploded into action in front of a full house with a goal for the US within a minute. Shaq Moore lit the fuse for a frenetic end-to-end contest that saw the US take the top slot in the group.
Group D: Panama 2 Honduras 3
July 18 – Honduras sealed their place in the knock out rounds with a 3-2 win over a battling Panama in Houston’s BBVA stadium tonight.
Group D: Grenada 0 Qatar 4
July 18 – Qatar, disappointed not to take maximum points in the Gold Cup opener against Panama, made no mistake against Grenada.
Group C: Suriname 1 Costa Rica 2
July 17 – Costa Rica rode their luck in a pulsating second half of their second Group C qualifying game against Suriname to qualify for the knock out rounds.
Group C: Jamaica 2 Guadeloupe 1
July 16 – Jamaica took a big step towards the knock out stages of the Gold Cup with a 2-1 win over Guadeloupe. But it they made hard work of it and needed a piece of individual skill by substitute Junior Flemings in the 87thminute to save Jamaica’s blushes.