Mexico, Guadeloupe win Gold Cup openers
Last Updated: Sunday, July 5, 2009 | 10:12 PM ET
The Associated Press
Nicaragua's Felix Zeledon, left, fights for the ball with Mexico's Miguel Sabah in the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match on Sunday. (Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)Luis Miguel Noriega scored his first international goal on a penalty kick in the 45th minute of his national team debut as Mexico defeated Nicaragua 2-0 on Sunday in Oakland, Calif., in the first round of CONCACAF Gold Cup play in Group C.
Pablo Barrera, a second-half substitute, added a goal for Mexico in the 86th minute. He one-touched the ball into the net from seven yards after a perfect cross from Alberto Medina on the right flank.
Noriega's goal came after Nicaragua midfielder Armando Reyes was whistled for a foul from behind against Israel Martinez. This marked Noriega's first official match with the national team after he was on the roster for a pair of friendlies late last month.
Mexico controlled the game and largely kept the ball in its offensive half of the field. Speedy Giovani Dos Santos put pressure on Nicaragua all game. He dribbled through traffic and took a left-footed shot in the first minute that went wide right and had another similar attempt in the 10th minute.
Mexico held an 11-1 advantage in shots in the first half and 18-6 overall.
Mexico forward Carlos Vela left after sustaining a right foot injury after a collision and foul in the fourth minute. He briefly went to the sideline, then returned before leaving for good.
Mexico lost in the 2007 Gold Cup championship to the United States and each country owns four Gold Cup titles.
Guadeloupe wins 2-1
Earlier Sunday, Loic Loval had a goal and an assist and David Fleurival also scored to lead Guadeloupe past Panama 2-1 in the Gold Cup opener for both clubs.
Both Guadeloupe goals came in the first half, with Loval connecting in the 33rd minute. Panama defender Armando Gun tried to chest the ball back to goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, but Loval intercepted and one-touched it into the net from about six yards.
Loval's assist came 10 minutes later on a pretty goal by Fleurival in which he lofted the ball from about 35 yards over Penedo's head into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Nelson Barahona scored for Panama in the 68th minute, getting the rebound after teammate Blas Perez missed a bicycle kick.
Marius Fausta made seven saves for Guadeloupe, a surprise semifinalist in the last Gold Cup tournament two years ago before losing to Mexico.
The Gwada Boys were the first Caribbean team to reach the semis since Trinidad and Tobago in 2000.
Guadeloupe coach Roger Salnot believes his team could make another strong run.
"It all comes down to the players showing their talent, showing their qualities," he said. "We have the talent."
Fausta replaced injured Franck Grandel, the tournament's top goalie in 2007 who left the team Saturday and returned to France to recover from a shoulder injury.
Guadeloupe won despite being outshot 21-8 in a physical game in the tournament's Group C.
"It's not good enough," Panama coach Gary Stempel said. "More than anything, I'm disappointed with the way we played in the first half. In the second half it was a much, much different team. It took us a little time to settle into the game. They settled into the game much quicker than we did, that's obvious."
