Costa Rica defeats Guadeloupe in CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009, 5-1

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Dallas Cowboy Stadium, in the city with same name, located in the Lone Star State, was the scene of one of the quarter finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009. The participants were Costa Rica and the French Overseas Department of Guadeloupe.

Costa Rica is currently in 30th place with 789 points in the FIFA Coca Cola Classifications. The Central American Nation has also made three World Cup Appearances [1990, 2002, and 2006] and was a runner up in a previous CONCACAF Gold Cup game in 2002.

Costa Rica is second place in Continental standings behind the USA and above Mexico.

The writer has been attempting to find the statistics for Guadeloupe without success.

First Half

Costa Rica started the game with a total dominance secondary to its discipline, continuity, and a desire to classify in the 2010 World Cup. Armando Alonso started the show for Costa Rica with some fancy footwork between him and Celso Borges

Borges surprised the multitude and the Guadeloupe goal keeper Faustus Marius with a bicycle kick in order to score the first goal for Costa Rica within three minutes..

Guadeloupe was unable to recover from the initial shock and received another surprise. Saborio scored another goal with his head hitting the ball towards the left part of the goal post and over the goalie’s head within 16 minutes.

Costa Rica continued its dominance as Guadeloupe made mistakes upon mistakes such as passing the ball between its players only to have it blocked and recovered by the Central American Country.

The first half finished with Costa Rica dominating the game with a two-point lead.

Second Half

Costa Rica appeared to be enjoying the game but playing a well disciplined one in the process. Andy Herron managed to widen the gap between Costa Rica and Guadeloupe with another goal without looking back.

Guadeloupe was not going to go down without a fight.

Alphonse attempted a last minute resistance by kicking the ball within the Costa Rican goal post and scoring its only goal of the game within 64 minutes. The only goal by the French Caribbean Island galvanized the Costa Ricans with Saborio scoring another goal within 71 minutes.

Saborio scored this goal with another direct kick into the left corner of the goal post.

Herrera finally placed the nail in the coffin for the Guadeloupe team with a last minute goal and the game remained consigned to the history of the CONCACAF Gold Cup as well as both nations.

Costa Rica will play Mexico after its victory over Haiti while the USA will play Honduras.

Most Valued Player: Saborio

Event: CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009

Site: Dallas Cowboy Stadium Dallas Texas

Final Score: Guadeloupe 1-5 Costa Rica

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