The North American Championship has provided plenty of drama, including a group with three teams tied at the top of the table. Eight teams earned their progression to the next stage, and this is the draw for the knockout stages:
We're going to go through all 7 knockout games - quarter-finals, semi-finals and final - today, meaning we'll get our first continental champion!
Quarter-finals
USA vs Guatemala
A final-round defeat to Trinidad & Tobago saw Guatemala drop into 2nd in their group despite opening with two wins, and as a result they are drawn against strong favourites USA, who cruised through Group A with little difficulty.
Josef Martínez beat Zlatan Ibrahimovic to start up front for USA, and it proved a wise call as he faced through onto Carlos Vela's pass to put his side ahead in the 8th minute. He headed in another before Wayne Rooney's volley from a corner made it 3-0 at the break.
Quarter-finals
USA vs Guatemala
A final-round defeat to Trinidad & Tobago saw Guatemala drop into 2nd in their group despite opening with two wins, and as a result they are drawn against strong favourites USA, who cruised through Group A with little difficulty.
Josef Martínez beat Zlatan Ibrahimovic to start up front for USA, and it proved a wise call as he faced through onto Carlos Vela's pass to put his side ahead in the 8th minute. He headed in another before Wayne Rooney's volley from a corner made it 3-0 at the break.
Mauricio Pereyra poked in another immediately after the break. The game was long over as a contest, and it became a case of damage limitation for Guatemala. They just about managed it, clinging on to 'only' lose 4-0.
Honduras vs Costa Rica
This is the only clash not featuring one of North America's 'big three', so in theory this should be the closest quarter-final.
A tepid first half continued into the second. However, the game finally kicked into life in the 71st minute when Costa Rica's Júnior Diaz was adjudged to have pushed Marcelo Canales over, giving Honduras a penalty. Up stepped Wilson Palacios, and he hammered it down the middle to give his side a crucial lead. Honduras looked comfortable, but with 5 minutes to go Yeltsin Tejeda connected sweetly with a volley on the edge of the box and brought Costa Rica level! With no more goals, this took us to extra time.
Honduras vs Costa Rica
This is the only clash not featuring one of North America's 'big three', so in theory this should be the closest quarter-final.
A tepid first half continued into the second. However, the game finally kicked into life in the 71st minute when Costa Rica's Júnior Diaz was adjudged to have pushed Marcelo Canales over, giving Honduras a penalty. Up stepped Wilson Palacios, and he hammered it down the middle to give his side a crucial lead. Honduras looked comfortable, but with 5 minutes to go Yeltsin Tejeda connected sweetly with a volley on the edge of the box and brought Costa Rica level! With no more goals, this took us to extra time.
A cagey period of extra time was livened as Milton Ruíz hit the bar with a powerful header, but ultimately there were still no more goals and we had our first penalty shootout!
Both sides put away their first five penalties, taking us to sudden death...
Roberto Moreira Aldana went next for Honduras... and was denied by Esteban! This gave Johnny Acosta the chance to win it, and he put it away to see Costa Rica through!
Mexico vs Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe are the lowest-ranked side to make it through to the quarter-finals, and they face a very strong Mexico.
Guadeloupe held out for the opening half hour, but Elías Hernández' cut inside and finish saw Mexico off the mark, and before half time they had added two more, through Rodolfo Pizarro's placed finish and Luis Montes' tap-in from a yard out.
Both sides put away their first five penalties, taking us to sudden death...
Roberto Moreira Aldana went next for Honduras... and was denied by Esteban! This gave Johnny Acosta the chance to win it, and he put it away to see Costa Rica through!
Mexico vs Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe are the lowest-ranked side to make it through to the quarter-finals, and they face a very strong Mexico.
Guadeloupe held out for the opening half hour, but Elías Hernández' cut inside and finish saw Mexico off the mark, and before half time they had added two more, through Rodolfo Pizarro's placed finish and Luis Montes' tap-in from a yard out.
A slither of hope arrived as Jonathan Biabiany put away a neat first-time finish 40 seconds into the second half, and it was a much more competitive second half. However, André-Pierre Gignac teed up Hernández to prod in his second goal in the 81st minute, and 6 minutes later he completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Canada vs Jamaica
Canada, whilst the best-performing North American side in last year's DWC campaign, have struggled a bit this year. Jamaica are also not at the same heights as previous years, but can they cause a minor upset here?
It took Canada 17 seconds to take the lead, Jozy Altidore finding space in the box to put away a crisp volley. Other than that, the first half was very even, and Canada just held a single-goal lead at the break.
Canada vs Jamaica
Canada, whilst the best-performing North American side in last year's DWC campaign, have struggled a bit this year. Jamaica are also not at the same heights as previous years, but can they cause a minor upset here?
It took Canada 17 seconds to take the lead, Jozy Altidore finding space in the box to put away a crisp volley. Other than that, the first half was very even, and Canada just held a single-goal lead at the break.
They also started the second half with a goal, as Omar González headed a free kick home in the 51st minute. From there, the game quickly got away from Jamaica as Ignacio Piatti's penalty and Altidore's rebound saw Canada 4 up just after the hour mark. In the 80th minute Andre Lewis forced a loose ball over the line for a Jamaican consolation, and Ryan Johnson got another in the dying moments, but Canada were never in danger of losing.
Semi-finals
USA vs Costa Rica
When the two sides met in the group stage, it was only a narrow 1-0 win for USA. However, they have yet to even draw a game, and so are heavy favourites here against a side that has actually lost more games than won in this tournament so far.
It was an ominous start, as USA won a penalty in the 4th minute for a push by Acosta. Rooney stepped up, and put his team ahead. USA continued to push for more, but on the stroke of half time they were hit by a sucker punch as Acosta atoned by heading a free kick.
Costa Rica nearly took a shock lead as Mariano Torres' volley was kept out by a fine reaction save by Bill Hamid. In fact, Costa Rica were growing into the game, which made it all the more harsh when Gonzalo Martínez teed up his namesake Josef to poke USA back into the lead. Claudio Pérez nearly equalised with a close-range header, but Costa Rica couldn't find a goal and USA squeezed through to the final!
USA vs Costa Rica
When the two sides met in the group stage, it was only a narrow 1-0 win for USA. However, they have yet to even draw a game, and so are heavy favourites here against a side that has actually lost more games than won in this tournament so far.
It was an ominous start, as USA won a penalty in the 4th minute for a push by Acosta. Rooney stepped up, and put his team ahead. USA continued to push for more, but on the stroke of half time they were hit by a sucker punch as Acosta atoned by heading a free kick.
Costa Rica nearly took a shock lead as Mariano Torres' volley was kept out by a fine reaction save by Bill Hamid. In fact, Costa Rica were growing into the game, which made it all the more harsh when Gonzalo Martínez teed up his namesake Josef to poke USA back into the lead. Claudio Pérez nearly equalised with a close-range header, but Costa Rica couldn't find a goal and USA squeezed through to the final!
Mexico vs Canada
Finally, a clash between two of the big three. Canada go into this as slight underdogs, particularly given the two sides' performances in DWC qualifying.
Mexico create a glorious chance early on, as Pizarro meets a cross at the far post. It looks a certain goal, but Bacary Sagna slides in to make an exceptional block. Both sides have half-chances fly by, but at the interval the sides are still goalless.
Canada had their own big chances as González hit the post from a free kick cross, but the game appeared to be drifting towards extra time. But in the second minute of stoppage time Eduardo Vargas neatly glanced in Jesús Gallardo's cross to steal the victory for Mexico!
Finally, a clash between two of the big three. Canada go into this as slight underdogs, particularly given the two sides' performances in DWC qualifying.
Mexico create a glorious chance early on, as Pizarro meets a cross at the far post. It looks a certain goal, but Bacary Sagna slides in to make an exceptional block. Both sides have half-chances fly by, but at the interval the sides are still goalless.
Canada had their own big chances as González hit the post from a free kick cross, but the game appeared to be drifting towards extra time. But in the second minute of stoppage time Eduardo Vargas neatly glanced in Jesús Gallardo's cross to steal the victory for Mexico!
Final
USA vs Mexico
As much as Canada have muscled in on this duopoly, USA and Mexico have shown - in both DWC qualifying and this tournament - that they are still the two titans of North American football in DWC-world. Both teams have 100% records in this competition - USA's extending back to the start of qualification - so something has got to give.
USA vs Mexico
As much as Canada have muscled in on this duopoly, USA and Mexico have shown - in both DWC qualifying and this tournament - that they are still the two titans of North American football in DWC-world. Both teams have 100% records in this competition - USA's extending back to the start of qualification - so something has got to give.
USA fashioned the game's first chance in the 16th minute as Rooney's crossfield pass found Carlos Vela on the right side of the box. For some reason, Nahuel Guzmán came flying out of his goal. Vela took it round him, but could only find the side netting from a very acute angle.
The midfield combo of Rooney and Jonathan dos Santos was outfoxing Mexico's aggressive pressing, and dos Santos' pass played in Leonardo Jara who found the bottom corner to open the scoring for USA! At half time, USA had both the lead and the majority of the play.
The midfield combo of Rooney and Jonathan dos Santos was outfoxing Mexico's aggressive pressing, and dos Santos' pass played in Leonardo Jara who found the bottom corner to open the scoring for USA! At half time, USA had both the lead and the majority of the play.
At half time Mexico bring on the hero of the last game, Vargas, for Guido Rodríguez. This left talismanic striker Gignac up front, and he equalised 6 minutes into the second half! A fairly aimless long ball should have been dealt with by USA, but neither Marcelo or Hamid deigned to claim it, allowing Gignac in to calmly level proceedings.
USA responded by bringing on Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Josef Martínez. Carlos Ascues clipped the top of the bar with a header, but other than that chances were at a premium, and the 90 minutes finished with the teams still tied at 1-1.
In extra time Mexico earned themselves a free kick in a dangerous position. Ascues cleared it, and it fell to Vela. He managed to run the full length of the pitch - not facing a challenge to beat - getting into Mexico's box and beating Guzmán with the finish! The point he picked up the ball is shown below:
In extra time Mexico earned themselves a free kick in a dangerous position. Ascues cleared it, and it fell to Vela. He managed to run the full length of the pitch - not facing a challenge to beat - getting into Mexico's box and beating Guzmán with the finish! The point he picked up the ball is shown below:
If that is to be the goal that wins the tournament, it's a worthy one. Vela decided not to wait and see if it would be the crucial goal, as he added another with a crisp header just a few minutes later!
Vargas had a chance to get Mexico back into it in the second period of extra time, as he met Cardona's cross with a header, but Hamid held. Two minutes later and they did have the ball in the net as Gignac brilliantly finished from Miguel Layún's pass, but he was offside. Mexico's mini-barrage continued as Hernández drew a save from Hamid, but they couldn't maintain the momentum, and the final whistle sounded to announce that USA have become the inaugural North American Championship winners!
A stunning three minute brace from (Mexican) Vela determined the fate of a fascinating final. USA lived up to their favourites billing, but Mexico showed they are basically on the same level.
A stunning three minute brace from (Mexican) Vela determined the fate of a fascinating final. USA lived up to their favourites billing, but Mexico showed they are basically on the same level.
That was the first of our six continental championships. Next time we are going to go through the entire Oceanic Championship.