|
 Born
out of the success of the 1999 Women's World Cup, the first
CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup was played in 2000 in the United
States. Two years later the second tournament, which also
doubled as qualifying for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, was
held in Canada and the United States. With the U.S., Canada and
Mexico playing at a different level than the rest of the
CONCACAF region, the hop is that the tournament will increase
the exposure for and development of women's soccer in the
region.
2000 Women's Gold
Cup
The
inaugural Women's Gold Cup kicked off n three venues in the the
United States and included six members of CONCACAF (Canada,
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and the United
States) and two invited teams (Brazil and China). The U.S.
dominated tournament play, going unbeaten in five games (4-0-1)
and adding another international championship to its trophy
case.
|
Gold Cup Record |
|
Wins |
Loss |
Ties |
|
9 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
The United
States crown came via a hard-fought 1-0 victory over
Brazil in the finals played at Foxboro Stadium on July 3,
2000. Tiffeny Milbrett scored the games only goal after
the two teams fought to a 0-0 draw in their opening round
finale, one of three consecutive shutouts for the U.S. in
the first round. The USA actually won Group A after
winning the final tiebreaker over Brazil (a coin flip
after the teams finished even on results and goals).
In the
semifinals, the United States were able to hold off an improving
Canadian side, 4-1, and moved into the Gold Cup finals against
Brazil., who knocked off pre-tournament favorite China in the
other semifinal game 3-2 in sudden-death overtime. Goalkeeper
Siri Mullinix led the USA backline with four shutouts and
allowed just a single goal in five games, while earning Best
Goalkeeper honors. Defender Joy Fawcett and midfielder Julie
Foudy were also named to the all-tournament team along with
Milbrett.
|
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Goal
Scorers |
Location |
| June 23 |
Trinidad &
Tobago |
W, 11-0 |
Parlow (3), Fair
(2), Hamm (2), Whalen (2), MacMillan, Milbrett |
Hershey,
PA |
| June 25 |
Costa Rica |
W, 8-0 |
Serelenga
(3), Welsh (2), Bush, MacMillan, Whalen |
Louisville, KY |
| June 27 |
Brazil |
T, 0-0 |
- |
Foxboro,
MA |
| July 1 |
Canada |
W, 4-1 |
MacMillan
(2), Milbrett, Hamm |
Louisville, KY |
| July 3 |
Brazil |
W, 1-0 |
Milbrett |
Foxboro,
MA |
2002 Women's Gold
Cup
 With
the tournament doubling as 2003 Women's World Cup qualifying,
the 2002 Women's Gold CUp did not feature any invited teams.
Instead, eight CONCACAF nations battled in four venues in two
countries along the Pacific coast for two guaranteed Women's
World Cup berths and a third playoff spot.
The Americans
kicked off first round play in Group A with back-to-back 3-0
shutouts victories over Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago The U.S.
closed out group play with a 9-0 trouncing of Panama in front of
a Women's Gold Cup record crowd of 21,522 at SAFECO Field in
Seattle.
In the
semifinals, the United States Women earned both a berth into the
2003 Women's World Cup and into the 2002 Women's Gold Cup final
with a blistering 7-0 victory over Costa Rica.
With both teams
qualified for the 2003 Women's World Cup, Canada would battle
the USA in a classic match for the 2002 crown. After battling to
a 1-1 draw through regulation, U.S. forward Mia Hamm won the
match with a stunning golden goal, handing the U.S. their second
consecutive regional title.
|
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Goal
Scorers |
Location |
| October 27 |
Mexico |
W, 3-0 |
Wagner, Parlow, MacMillan |
Pasadena,
CA |
| October 29 |
Trinidad &
Tobago |
W, 3-0 |
Parlow,
Chastain, Milbrett |
Fullerton,
CA |
| November 2 |
Panama |
W, 9-0 |
Milbrett
(5), MacMillan (2), Roberts, Wambach |
Seattle,
WA |
| November 6 |
Costa RIca |
W, 7-0 |
Parlow
(3), Hucles, MacMillan, Lilly, own goal |
Seattle,
WA |
| November 9 |
Canada |
W, 2-1
(ot) |
Milbrett,
Hamm |
Pasadena,
CA |
Women's Gold Cup
Summaries |
