Five points from the USA side in the Gold Cup final

Posted Sunday, June 26, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Mexico is the champion of CONCACAF once again after a strong performance against the USA. Goal.com looks at five things for American fans to take away from the match.

1. The defense collapsed

Here's the most obvious point you'll ever see, but it has to be said. The USA's back line simply fell apart against a Mexican attack that simply made it look bad. The early lead was erased quickly and Mexico never really looked back.

A lot of that collapse had to do with Jonathan Bornstein replacing Steve Cherundolo, thus replacing one of the USA's best players with a defender who proceeded to allow three of Mexico's four goals from his side of the pitch, but the truth is that the USA's defense is problematic against top teams and tonight was no different. It has as much to do the back line not being able to move the ball forward well as it does with the actual defending part, but the USA has to find some answers at the back before it can really progress.

2. Freddy Adu was good again

One thing for USA fans to take away from the match is that Freddy Adu was solid again. Fitness and regular playing time should help him improve more going forward, and for the first time there is a real reason to be optimistic about his future as a star for the USA.

3. Mexico was the better team

There's no real reason to look for people to blame. Mexico was simply the better team on the night. Pablo Barrera had two great finishes and Gio Dos Santos' goal was a thing of beauty. This is the best Mexico team for while and it deserves to be considered the best in CONCACAF. The USA will have plenty of chances to get stronger as it moves forward and gets healthy, but three of Mexico's four goals were high quality and El Tri won this title more than the USA lost it.

4. The central pairing had a terrible night

Maybe it was the pressure of the moment, and maybe it was all about how well Mexico played, but whatever the case, Jermaine Jone and Michael Bradley were kept largely out of the match tonight. Bradley grabbed the USA's first goal, but for the USA to beat Mexico he and Jones needed to be better.

5. Moving forward

With the Gold Cup over, it's time to look to the future. Aside from Adu, the USA can look at promising performances from Alejandro Bedoya, Jozy Altidore and Eric Lichaj in this competition as good signs going forward, and even the improved play of Sacha Kljestan should be noted as well as the experience that Juan Agudelo picked up and some of his flashes throughout the competition.

Changes are on the horizon, and the USA made the Gold Cup final and put out a fairly strong effort with a team that is in transition at the moment.