TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras.- Martinique’s Kevin Fortune made history when he scored against Haiti in a 2-1 defeat last Sunday in their 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Group B finale. It was the Gold Cup’s 1000th goal, an achievement that will forever be attached to Fortune, Martinique and the tournament. It is also a moment that is 30 years in the making.
Eduardo Bennett from Honduras was the tournament’s inaugural scorer, getting his side on the scoresheet with a clinical finish on a spot kick in the 28th minute against Canada. The goal would be the catalyst of a 4-2 win for Los Catrachos. More importantly, it would help kick off the region’s biggest football tournament.
It’s a tournament that not only pits North American soccer powerhouses like the U.S. and Mexico against each other, but allows countries like Panama or Haiti to prove its mettle and showcase its brand of football. Speaking with Concacaf.com, Bennett acknowledged Fortune being from Martinique and scoring the 1,000th goal proves just how much soccer is growing in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
“I think it’s something spectacular, I think it’s great. It also speaks to the growth of the tournament and the growth of the players. Teams have changed over the years and it speaks specifically to the growth of Caribbean football,” said Bennett. “Their progress is notable and now you see that there are no easy opponents in a Gold Cup. They have grown a lot, they are getting players from a top footballing level and they are building strong teams, so we know the difficulty those teams present.”
Bennett also pointed to the fact both U.S. and Mexico narrowly won most of their group games as a sign that the playing field is starting to level out.
“I think this growth from all the teams also means that it’s not easy to score goals, just look at the games from the United States and Mexico, many of them were tight, one-goal games, which suggests they are not showing the same superiority as before,” he said.
Bennett found about Fortune’s goal while working in his job as a commentator on Honduran television and hopes it’s an accomplishment that will long be remembered. It also makes him reflect on scoring the tournament’s first goal.
“Seeing that 1,000th goal brings back a lot of memories of my first goal. It feels like it was yesterday, but it’s been 30 years and there’s been a pattern of improvement and greater intensity within the competition,” Bennett said.
He also hopes Honduras will return to the levels it was at when he played for the team. Honduras made the initial Gold Cup final before losing to penalties to the U.S. Bennett feels like this year’s team will be able to proudly represent Honduras.
“Our country of Honduras has not been able to return to the highest level, the Final, since that first year but this team is showing potential and hopefully they achieve it,” he said.
As for the future of the Gold Cup, Bennett believes the competition is only going to get better as teams at all levels continue to improve.
“I hope in the next 30 years to see an even greater improvement, I don’t think you are going to see any more lopsided games, and that’s good,” Bennett said. “So hopefully that is what we see as we arrive to goal number 2,000.”
