By advancing all the way to the final and then defeating heavily favored Colombia, it was able to accomplish what the U.S. team and favorites Mexico -- as well as Colombia, South Korea and Jamaica, for that matter, could not -- win the fifth staging of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Canada, the 85th ranked team in the world, benefited from a series of great performances from West Ham-based goalkeeper Craig Forrest in their staggering victories over Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and then Colombia. The keeper's efforts earned him tournament MVP honors.

This Gold Cup will not just go down as an overachievement for the Canadians, but disappointing performances by the favorites.

The host U.S. opened with solid victories in Miami over Haiti and Peru to win Group B. It was matched against a very unimpressive Colombia in the quarterfinals.

The U.S. controlled much of the match and twice went ahead only to be equalized by the South Americans. In the penalty shootout, the U.S. could not convert its chances, going down 2-1.

"We had control to win and we didn't," said U.S. coach Bruce Arena. "I was disappointed with the two goals we gave up, especially the late one."

Nevertheless, the U.S. bowed out early with the disappointing finish, and dealt a blow to the organizers who were counting on the Americans to draw the crowds in the latter stages.

The second blow to CONCACAF came when Canada downed the mighty Mexicans. Ironically, Canada advanced out of Group D over South Korea -- another disappointing team -- only after a coin toss as both teams finished dead even.

Everyone was stunned when Canada's Richard Hastings scored the sudden-death goal in the third minute of overtime to knock out Mexico. And just like that, both teams expected to go to the final and the only two teams to have ever won the Gold Cup, were out by the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately for both the tournament and its organizers, the glamour teams' exits meant a serious decline in attendance for the final games played in southern California. The final was played before 6,197 spectators on a cold and rainy day in the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Further disappointments came from South Korea, a World Cup '98 participant, which could not advance in a group with Canada and Costa Rica, while Jamaica, another World Cup '98 vet went down quietly with two losses.

Oddly enough, finalist Colombia also was a letdown. Usually a soccer powerhouse as a regular World Cup qualifier, it should never have made it out of group play, squeaking by Jamaica and then being trounced by Honduras. Their path to the final was made possible by a win in penalties over the obviously stronger U.S., and two gifted goals provided by Peru in the semis.

Canadian goalie Craig Forrest celebrates with Richard Hastings.(AP)

The bizarre results had some repercussions. Jamaican coach Rene Simoes resigned after their two losses, bringing an end to the Brazilian-native's six-year stint with the Reggae Boyz.

T&T's performance was actually one of the few positives in the tournament, as the tiny Caribbean nation beat Guatemala and Costa Rica on its way to the semis. Despite an onslaught against Canada, the Canadians were not to be denied, which meant the final game for head coach Bertille St. Clair.

In other news, T&T's Dwight Yorke did not bring smiles to his bosses at Manchester United after returning to England banged up. United manager Alex Ferguson flew Yorke back from the U.S. just to insert him in the lineup against title challengers Leeds, only to see him limp off with an injury early in the first half. He was unable to play in the semifinal for his country.

Newcastle went further with their displeasure with Peruvian striker Nolberto Solano. He was fined a maximum two weeks wages after disobeying his orders while on international duty. He was given strict instructions not to play for his country if he was not fully fit, but Solano played 86 minutes against Haiti and aggravated a thigh injury.

In the end, it was Canada which brought to every country's attention that there has never been more parity in the region as there is now. With the beginning rounds of qualifying for World Cup 2002 kicking off this Saturday, it is very clear that CONCACAF is more than just the U.S. and Mexico.

This is the "Best 11" team, as voted by the international media covering the event:

• Craig Forrest (GK -- Canada) *MVP*
• Rafael Marquez (D -- Mexico)
• Jason DeVos (D -- Canada)
• Ramon Ramirez (M -- Mexico)
• Cobi Jones (F -- USA)
• Arnold Dwarika (F -- Trinidad & Tobago)
• Roberto Palacios (M -- Peru)
• Russell Latapy (M -- Trinidad & Tobago)
• Carlo Corazzin (F -- Canada)
• Carlos Pavon (F -- Honduras)
• Faustino Asprilla (F -- Colombia)

The "Rookie of the Tournament" award went to Hastings. Hastings scored the memorable "Golden Goal" that helped Canada beat three-time Gold Cup champions Mexico.

English legend Sir Stanley Matthews dies at 85

Stanley Matthews was the first real superstar of world football. Coming from a time when soccer was a humble and stylish sport, he personified the term gentleman and hero.

English legend Sir Stanley Matthews dies at 85. (Allsport)

Matthews career stretched over 30 years as he continued to play in the top-flight division into his 50s. A mesmerizing dribbler of the ball, Matthews ruled the right wing for his clubs Stoke City and Blackpool and for his country. During his prime, his ability to shred defenses made him the most potent weapon in the game.

Unfittingly, he was in his prime during the dark years of Europe surrounding World War II when the World Cup competitions were suspended. Therefore, most of his heroics were concentrated on the domestic stage. His most famous being the "The Matthews Final," when he single-handedly brought back Blackpool from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Bolton in the 1953 F.A. Cup final.

He was the first player ever to receive the European Footballer of the Year award. He was the first player to be knighted for services to soccer. He is an inaugural member of FIFA's Hall of Champions. He continued to give back his time and efforts to the game up until his death. He will not be forgotten.

Joe-Max earning respect at Everton

Joe-Max Moore looks happy at Everton.(AP)

Joe-Max Moore is in a zone.

"Sometimes goals come in bunches, and that's what's happening for me now," he said.

With goals in five consecutive games and six out of the last seven, the U.S. striker has made the most of his chance to play in the English Premiership. His latest accomplishment was grabbing the fourth and final goal in a 4-0 rout of West Ham.

For the moment, he has worked himself into the starting lineup at Everton as well as the good graces of current manager Walter Smith. In the meantime, Everton has climbed up to seventh place in the Premiership table.

Keller not so lucky

Leicester doesn't miss him as much as he hoped.

In an odd career twist for U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who along with Moore opted to sit out the 2000 Gold Cup, he saw his former Premiership side Leicester City win the English Worthington League Cup in Wembley on Sunday.

In his absence, Leicester tore through the League Cup draw behind the emergence of powerful striker Emile Heskey and strong team play to down surprising finalist Tranmere Rovers 2-1 on Sunday.

Profiting from his departure was England goalkeeper Tim Flowers, who was languishing in the Blackburn Rovers reserve team only a year ago.

Keller left Leicester this past summer after a long, successful career in England for the warmer environs of Madrid and the Primera Liga. On the same afternoon, he was shelled for five goals as his new team Rayo Vallecano was blown out by Espanyol 5-1.

It should be noted however, that Keller won the same title with Leicester in 1997.

What is the deal with this guy?

German international Lothar Matthaus has had a long and distinguished career in Europe. But he sure seems to be taking his supposed MLS career lightly.

Lothar Matthaus leaves the pitch having broken the world caps record(Reuters)

Matthaus, who is scheduled to begin playing for the NY/NJ MetroStars next week, can't seem to make up his mind about it. He has flip-flopped his decision several times, and in the process only made MLS look silly.

After wholesale changes in management for the MetroStars during this offseason, Matthaus called the deal off as he claimed his original agreement was only valid with the former entities. Now it seems it is back on again for next week.

In the meantime, he has been grabbing the spotlight by playing in his so-called "final" games with club and country, last week setting the international cap record in a friendly with Holland. In his 144th international appearance, the Germans lost 2-1.

Now he has revealed that he might actually return to play at his longtime club Bayern Munich after his MetroStars commitment is up at the end of this season.

"I could imagine coming back to the Bundesliga again," Matthaus told soccer magazine Kicker last week.

Matthaus also will miss a sizable chunk of this season's MLS games as he will be competing in this summer's European Championships. Either way, his tenure with the Metros is starting out awfully shady, and with an organization which has proven inept at almost every player move ever made, it certainly doesn't look good.

Looking Ahead

After a long winter's nap, the big-money European club competitions are back.

The Champions' League is back with a vengeance this week with high profile clubs Manchester United, Lazio, Marseille, Fiorentina, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona all in action.

The UEFA Cup kicks off round four with some big clubs as well: Arsenal, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Parma, Werder Bremen and Leeds United.