CONCACAF had a little tournament-style contest to determine the best goals in Gold Cup history, and the results were, simply put, bullshit.
Apparently, they were determined by a fan democratic vote, but hey, CONCACAF and FIFA have had their own version of democracy for a while and that hasn’t been working out so well lately.
So we’re staging a coup (or a tantrum, whatever) and choosing what we consider to be the 5 best goals in recent Gold Cup history (2007-2013). Or really, just goals that were better than the one fans selected as #1 (Javier Aguila’s from the 2011 Guatemala vs Granada match).
Omar Daily, Jamaica (vs Grenada), 2011
In the 2011 edition of the Gold Cup, Jamaica dominated the group stage by winning their three opening games without receiving a single goal; 2-0 vs El Savador, 1-0 vs Honduras, and 4-0 over Grenada. As evidence of their 1st round domination, there is this goal after a great team combination play.
Sadly, the Jamaicans weren’t able to continue their winning streak, as they went on to lose in the 2nd round against the United States.
This goal lost in the 1st round of the CONCACAF best Gold Cup goal contest against the eventual champion, womp womp.
Andres Guardado, Mexico, (vs Costa Rica), 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgePO7NbheQ
The 2011 Mexican squad has been the strongest one in recent Gold Cup history. In the 1st round of the group stage, Mexico won its three games, scoring a total of 14 goals and receiving only 1. This volley by Andres Guardado after a classy pass by Barrera happened in the 4-1 victory over Costa Rica.
This goal was eliminated in the 1st round of the CONCACAF best Gold Cup goal contest.
Celso Borges, Costa Rica, (vs Guadeloupe), 2009
After a rocky tournament start, which included losing to El Salvador in the opening game and barely making it out of the group stage, Costa Rica destroyed the 2007 Gold Cup sensation Guadeloupe with a 5-1 score. The goleada began with this Chilena from Celso Borges at minute 3.
This goal lost in the Quarterfinals of the CONCACAF best Gold Cup goal contest.
Benny Feilhaber, USA, (vs Mexico), 2007
For some totally unknown reason this goal didn’t even make it to the top 32 goals that were included in CONCACAF’s best goal contest, but it definitely deserves to be considered as one of the best. This goal happened in the 2007 Gold Cup Final, the match that determined the CONCACAF squad that would play the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. Mexican Andres Guardado opened the score in the 1st half, and American legend Landon Donovan tied in the second, and the tight game was finally be resolved with this great volley from Benny Feilhaber.
Two years later, the United States would almost win the Confederations Cup tournament as they were beating Brazil 2-0 at halftime, but went on to lose 2-3 after a disastrous 2nd half. In the semifinals, the U.S. had played a perfect counter-attack game and defeated Euro Cup –and eventual World Cup- champions Spain with a 2-0 score.
Giovani Dos Santos, Mexico, (vs USA), 2011
Gio’s dope goal is simply the BEST in Gold Cup history. It happened in the 2011 final and the context was amazing, because it was a repetition of the 2007 title match, which had also awarded a spot at the Confederations Cup. Unlike the 2007 game where Mexico opened the score lost to the U.S., this time it would be the United States who were winning 2-0 by minute 25 and eventually lost.
With goals by American Stars Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley, the US took an early lead, but Barrera and Guardado tied the game before the 1st half ended. Barrera scored again in the first minutes of the 2nd half and put Mexico ahead.
With an amazing dribble that made the talented Tim Howard look terrible, and a very classy finish, Giovani sealed the deal at 4-2 in favor of Mexico. Giovani’s goal – 15 minutes before the end of the game –was the fatal blow for the U.S.A, who felt overmatched and even embarrassed after the way Dos Santos scored.
Despite being a candidate for the 2011 FIFA Puskas Award for the most beautiful goal of the year (along 9 others), this goal lost in the 1st round of CONCACAF ’s best Gold Cup goal against a header by Michael Bradley, which was scored in the same game.