1999 FIFA Confederations Cup Final

1999 FIFA Confederations Cup Final
Event 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
Date 4 August 1999
Venue Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Referee Anders Frisk (Sweden)
Attendance 110,000

The 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup Final was a football match between Mexico and Brazil to determine the winners of the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup. The match was held at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico, on 4 August 1999.

Mexico won the match 4-3, earning their first title in history and being the first CONCACAF team to win the tournament.

Background

This was the first time Mexico took over Brazil in a FIFA tournament final. Prior to the tournament, Mexico never won a major FIFA tournament, but came close to in the second edition (also the last edition) of the King Fahd Cup, ending up in third place, under Denmark and Argentina.

For Brazil, this was their second and consecutive final after beating Australia in the 1997 Confederations Cup Final, making them the first team to win the tournament, since FIFA took over the King Fahd Cup.

Mexico

This marked the first time Mexico qualified to the tournament final, and the first time a CONCACAF representative would reach the final.

In their tournament debut, Mexico won 5-1 in their first match against Saudi Arabia. Later, they tied in a disappointing game 2-2 versus Egypt, that got a dramatic equalizer in the last 5 minutes. For their last group stage match, Bolivia were their rivals, beating them 1-0 in the 52' minute, that gave Mexico a total of 7 points. Then in the semi-finals, USA stood in Mexico's way, but were later defeated 1-0 by golden goal, scored in the 97' minute that gave Mexico the first ticket to the final.

Brazil

Meanwhile, this was the second consecutive final for Brazil. They were looking forward on winning their second Confederations Cup, repeating like in the 1997 edition.

The defending champion, made their tournament debut with a 4-0 win over a surprisingly disappointing Germany. Then won versus USA with only a 1-0 win. Later, they finished on top of their group with 9 points after they defeated New Zealand 2-0. In the semi finals, they astonishly beat 8-2 to Saudi Arabia, thus gave Brazil the right to play the final.

Route to the final

Mexico Round Brazil
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
 Saudi Arabia 5–1 Match 1  Germany 4–0
 Egypt 2–2 Match 2  United States 1–0
 Bolivia 1–0 Match 3  New Zealand 2–0
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Mexico 32108357
 Saudi Arabia 31116604
 Bolivia 302123-12
 Egypt 302159–42
Final standing
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Brazil 33007079
 United States 32014226
 Germany 310226-43
 New Zealand 300316–50
Opponent Result Knockout stage Opponent Result
 United States 1–0 (a.e.t) Semi-Final  Saudi Arabia 8–2

Match details

4 August 1999
21:00
Mexico  4–3  Brazil
Zepeda  13', 51'
Abundis  28'
Blanco  62'
(Report) Serginho  43' (pen.)
Roni  47'
Zé Roberto  63'
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Attendance: 110,000
Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden)
Mexico
Brazil
GK 1 Jorge Campos
CB 18Salvador Carmona
CB 4 Rafael Márquez 21'
CB 2 Claudio Suárez (c) 74'
CM 6 Germán Villa
CM 13Pável Pardo
RM 19Miguel Zepeda  83'
LM 7 Ramon Ramírez
AM 10Cuauhtémoc Blanco 50'
CF 9 José Manuel Abundis 11'
CF 17Francisco Palencia  70'
Substitutions:
DF 14Isaac Terrazas  70'
MF 16Jesus Arellano  83'
Manager:
Mexico Manuel Lapuente
GK 1 Dida
RB 3 Odvan
CB 4 João Carlos Yellow cardYellow cardRed card 46', 90+2'
LB 6 Serginho
CM 8 Emerson
CM 5 Flávio Conceição
RM 20Vampeta
LM 11Zé Roberto  5'  82'
AM 17Beto  45'
CF 7 Ronaldinho
CF 10Alex
Substitutions:
FW 18Roni  45'
FW 19Warley  82'
Manager:
Brazil Vanderlei Luxemburgo

Assistant referees:
Spain Fernando Treasco Gracia (Spain)
Jordan Awni Hassouneh (Jordan)

References