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In anticipation of this Saturday's CONCACAF Gold Cup Final which will pin two neighboring rivals, The United States and Mexico, against each other once again, we thought we'd revisit a couple historic US National Team performances again Mexico featuring none other than some former and present New England Revolution greats. Just to help you get pumped up.
First up: Mr. Steve Ralston. In September of 2005 the United States played Mexico at Columbus Crew Stadium in a qualifying game for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Ralston, who had a total of 42 goals in 202 appearances with the Revs from 2002-2010, scored the first of two US goals in this game (the other by DaMarcus Beasley) which saw USA the victors over their neighbors to the south. Ralston's goal, as well as Beasley's, went down as follows:
U.S. MNT Goals vs. Mexico - Sept 2005 (via ussoccerdotcom)
But probably (arguably) the greatest goal the US national team had against Mexico was from the Revolution's own newly-acquired prized possession Benny Feilhaber, who sealed the deal for the United States in the 2007 Gold Cup Final. It was this game-winning strike that led the US to their win and brought the USA its first Gold Cup victory against Mexico, a feat that Mexico had already achieved in 1993 and 1998. This Saturday will be the fourth Gold Cup Final that the two countries will face off against each other in, this time without Feilhaber who was replaced on the squad by Alejandro Bedoya after Feilhaber was injured in the Revs' 0-1 loss to the LA Galaxy last month. Anyhow, here's that goal. Watch in amazement:
Benny Feilhaber goal in 2007 Gold Cup Final (via antigen2c)
The silver-lining is that the Revs may be getting Benny back from his injury for their game against the Seattle Sounders this Sunday, which couldn't come at a better time as the Revs are struggling for some points in order to climb out from the bottom of the Eastern Conference table. Fingers crossed.
Go USA. Go Revs. Get pumped. Great weekend ahead.