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Location: Miami, Fla., & Pasadena, Calif., USA
The 2002 Gold Cup presented a strong 12-team field, including five teams (Costa Rica, Mexico, USA, Korea and Ecuador) that were preparing for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.
Bruce Arena called on a team made up primarily of domestic-based players and were aided by European players Eddie Lewis, Kasey Keller and Frankie Hejduk, each of whom would play a large role in the team’s successful tournament.
In the USA’s opener, the Arena’s team faced an organized Korea in the opener, a preview to the team’s World Cup match. The Americans two youngest players – Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley – each scored, with Beasley tallying a 92nd minute goal to give the U.S. the win. After the win against Korea, the U.S. used a Brian McBride penalty kick to advance to the tournament quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Cuba. The shutout was the first of four straight for the U.S. defense and goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
McBride, the Gold Cup MVP and leading scorer, went for a hat trick in the quarterfinal, pacing the U.S. to a 4-0 win over El Salvador.
The U.S. dominated Canada in the semifinal, outshooting their northern neighbors 36-10 as the teams played to a scoreless draw. It wasn’t until the penalty kick shootout that the U.S. could put the ball in the net, as the Canadian goalkeeper recorded 15 saves in the first two hours. The U.S. converted all four shots in the penalty kick shootout, and Keller produced two saves to put the U.S. into just their fourth Gold Cup final.
In the final, the U.S. cruised past Costa Rica, posting another shutout and using a Josh Wolff goal and a beautiful Jeff Agoos free kick for a 2-0 win and the team’s second-ever Gold Cup championship.
Following the tournament, the U.S. placed Jeff Agoos, Landon Donovan and Brian McBride on the All-Tournament Team. |
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| 6th CONCACAF Gold Cup — United States '02 (Miami, Fla. & Pasadena, Calif.) |
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1-19-02
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Korea
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2-1 W
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Donovan, Beasley
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Pasadena, Calif.
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42,117
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1-21-02
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Cuba
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1-0 W
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McBride
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Pasadena, Calif.
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31,224
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1-27-02
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El Salvador (q)
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4-0 W
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McBride (3), Razov
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Pasadena, Calif.
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31,628
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1-30-02
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Canada (s)
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0-0 T (4-2 pks)
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Pasadena, Calif.
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7,241
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2-2-02
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Costa Rica (f)
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2-0 W
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Wolff, Agoos
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Pasadena, Calif.
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14,423
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(q) Quarterfinal
(s) Semifinal
(f) Final |
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Champion: United States
Runner-up: Costa Rica
USA’s All-time Gold Cup Record: 20-3-3 (44 GF, 16 GA) |
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2002 Gold Cup
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