Gold Cup 2013 Bracket: Players Who Will Have Massive Impact in Quarterfinals

The Gold Cup group stage concluded Tuesday with a pair of exciting matches, each decided by the stunning play of a couple key contributors.

For the United States, Landon Donovan and Brek Shea set the tone in the final minutes to push their team to a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica. Earlier in the day, Ariel Martinez of Cuba netted a hat trick, providing three of the four goals his side needed to reach the quarterfinals.

Those individual performances impacted Group C, but several players had similar impacts on the entire tournament in the group stage. For players like Kenwyne Jones of Trinidad and Tobago and Marco Fabian of Mexico, their contributions directly resulted in a quarterfinals berth.

With the knockout round set to kick off on Saturday, each of those players will be looking to continue their impressive play with another solid performance in an effort to boost their respective teams to a semifinals berth.

Let’s highlight four players from this weekend’s action who are poised to produce massive performances that could help their side to a Gold Cup championship.

Saturday, July 20

Panama vs. Cuba

Mexico vs. Trinidad and Tobago

Sunday, July 21

United States vs. El Salvador

Honduras vs. Costa Rica

Kenwyne Jones, Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago needed a victory over Honduras to advance to the knockout stage, and it got just that with a convincing 2-0 victory.

Forward Kenwyne Jones was a big part of that win, slotting the go-ahead goal in the 48th minute to give his side some breathing room in the contest. While Kevin Molino tacked on another in the 66th minute, it was Jones’ effort that gave Trinidad and Tobago the ability to keep the pressure on Honduras.

That goal was Jones’ second of the tournament in 135 minutes played. But considering his side scored just four goals in three group-stage contests, there’s no denying who is the team’s leading attacker and focal point of its offense.

Trinidad and Tobago will have its hands full against a stout Mexican side on Saturday, though. Despite Mexico’s recent trouble in international play, it still boasts enough firepower to put this contest out of reach in short order.

For Trinidad and Tobago to find success, it will need Jones to once again step up. Look for the 28-year-old Stoke City man to net at least one more goal in this contest, giving his team a fighting chance at a semifinals berth.

Landon Donovan, United States

Shea scored the winning goal in the United States’ 1-0 win over Costa Rica, but it was Donovan who set him up and allowed the winger an easy scoring opportunity.

Donovan has that effect on the United States men’s national team. While the 31-year-old is certainly capable of finding the net on a regular basis, his greatest value to the team is his ability to visualize and create chances for others.

Against El Salvador, Donovan is going to have to do a little of both.

After a four-plus-month layoff from the USMNT, Donovan came roaring back with two goals in the opening contest of the group stage. Along with Chris Wondolowski, the United States has fielded a dynamic attack with a pair of extremely capable scorers.

Donovan appears to have shaken off the rust as he finds his chemistry with the USMNT again. With a fourth-straight Gold Cup finals appearance in its sights, the United States should expect another strong performance from Donovan on Sunday.

Ariel Martinez, Cuba

Cuba finds itself in the quarterfinals after winning its first match in its last 13 Gold Cup matches. Without Martinez, that wouldn’t have been possible.

Cuba needed to win by four goals to advance to the knockout stage—something Martinez made a distinct possibility with a first-half goal against Belize on Tuesday. He tacked on two more scoring strikes short of stoppage time, allowing Cuba to net the game-winner in the final seconds of play.

Martinez is a dynamic attacker who can finish in any number of ways. Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, he’s leading a Cuban side that scored just one goal entering that match and faces a very talented Panama team in the quarterfinals.

Panama is a much better defensive team than Belize, but Martinez still has a chance to continue Cuba’s unlikely run.

Martinez has a ton of momentum on his side and is playing with supreme confidence. While a Cuba victory is highly unlikely, Martinez has a chance to blow this match wide open and help his team to a tremendous knockout stage upset.

Marco Fabian, Mexico

Mexico flailed in the Confederations Cup after already struggling in World Cup qualifying play. The competition in the Gold Cup doesn’t quite compare to those contests, but it’s a good sign to see the Mexican side display some life in the group stage.

With six points on two impressive wins in the opening round, Mexico appears ready to change its recent string of mediocrity in the Gold Cup. If it hopes to make its fourth-straight finals appearance, players like Marco Fabian are likely to be the biggest reason for it.

The 23-year-old midfielder is tied for second in the tournament with three goals, behind only Wondolowski and his five scoring strikes. Fabian netted a goal in each of the team’s first three contests, and he’ll be expected to provide similar consistency against an overmatched Trinidad and Tobago team on Saturday.

Mexico has plenty of attacking prowess, but Fabian has been the go-to scorer through three matches. Expect more of the same this weekend.