Matchday two is in the books from the CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions League. While the region is always improving, the three nations that have clinched passage to the knock out stages already were all semifinalists in 2007: Canada, Guadeloupe and the United States.

Mexico’s continued unsporting play took a radical and disturbing turn on Thursday night with Javier Aguirre’s bizarre behavior in trying to trip Ricardo Phillips of Panama. Following this incident, the pro Mexican crowd at Estadio Reliant showed their frustration with El Tri’s current form by throwing objects at the Panamanian bench are and continued this behavior throughout stoppage time and after the game.

In this round of games current MLS stars Santino Quaranta and Brian Ching scored goals for the United States and new Toronto FC signing Ali Gerba (formerly of the Miami Fusion and Montreal Impact) (MLS/USL goal scorers)scored Canada’s lone goal in a 1-0 win over El Salvador. The goal was Gerba’s second of the tournament and sixth in his Gold Cup career.

Current USL players, Fabrice Noel and James Marcelin both from the Puerto Rico Islanders scored the two Haiti goals in a 2-0 win over Grenada.

I’ll be at the matches tonight in Miami which will decide the fate of all four teams in Group A. I’ll have a full report on MLS Talk tomorrow.

Gold Cup Groups  (Teams in bold have clinched passage to the knock out stages)

A: Canada 6 El Salvador 3  Costa Rica 3  Jamaica 0

TODAY (MIAMI):  Canada-Costa Rica, Jamaica-El Salvador

B:  USA 6 Haiti 3 Honduras 3 Grenada 0

TOMORROW (FOXBOROUGH):  USA-Haiti, Honduras-Grenada

C:  Guadeloupe 6 Mexico 4  Panama 1 Nicaragua 0

SUNDAY (PHOENIX):  Panama-Nicargaua, Mexico-Guadeloupe

  • MLS Talk and 1560 the Game’s Brian Zygo reports that Guadeloupe is likely to rest several regulars on Sunday versus Mexico giving El Tri a decent shot of getting all 3 points and winning the group. Guadeloupe’s team is largely European based and this being the European closed season a day off would help many of their players.
  • Tonight here in Miami, I am told to expect a mixed Canadian squad. We could see some players like Charles Gbeke that we have yet to see in this tournament.
  • I am also told their is strong likelyhood Jamaica will be playing a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3 tonight and will be pushing forward to score goals early and often. Omar Cummings of the Rapids and Nicholas Addlery of the Puerto Rico Islanders are sure to feature prominently in Jamacia’s desperation.