By Dylan Butler

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - It was an onslaught that was as impressive as it was unexpected.

Five different Mexican players scored in a stunning second-half offensive explosion as El Tri crushed the United States, 5-0, to win the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup title in front of a sellout crowd of 79,156 at Giants Stadium on Sunday.

So where did it all go wrong for the United States, which suffered its worst defeat since 1985?

U.S. coach Bob Bradley pointed toward Gerardo Torrado's penalty kick that put Mexico in front in the 56^th minute.

"The change was the goal," Bradley said. "Please, I hope you understand that when a goal is scored now all of a sudden things change in the game. We didn't do well at that point in terms of our response, our ability to keep control while we push for the equalizer."

The penalty decision by Jamaican referee Courtney Campbell was not only pivotal, but disputed, as well.

"I do not think it was a penalty," Bradley said.

With his back to goal, Giovani dos Santos received a pass from Carlos Vela inside the box. With U.S. defender Jay Heaps marking closely, Dos Santos swung his right elbow, making contact with Heaps.

Both players fell to the ground and Campbell pointed to the spot.

"I don't think it was a penalty," U.S. midfielder Stuart Holden said. "I didn't see a replay yet, but I don't think we should keep our heads down."

Bradley was attempting to make two tactical changes. But before he could insert Kenny Cooper and Santino Quaranta, El Tri struck again as Dos Santos scored in the 62^nd minute.

"I'm not going to make excuses, but when it comes down to it I think we just lost our composure," U.S. forward Brian Ching said. "They're a good team and they punished us. We just couldn't get our composure back, being a young team, guys playing a lot of minutes."

The United States pushed numbers forward in an attempt to get back into the game, but in doing so, they left themselves susceptible to a counter. That only helped Mexico as Vela and Jose Antonio Castro scored 12 minutes apart, much to the delight of the capacity and partisan Mexican crowd of 79,156.

"They had Vela and Dos Santos really cheating on top and they were waiting for us to lose it," Beckerman said. "As soon as they won it, they were off and running."

The game mercifully ended for the United States, but not before Guillermo Franco struck for a fifth goal after Heaps was sent off with a second yellow card. Bradley and his young squad stayed on the field and watched the Mexican players dancing and celebrating on the field, loitering for the post-match ceremony.

"Whether it's the Confederations Cup in South Africa and it's Brazil or whether it's in Giants Stadium and it's the Gold Cup and it's Mexico, when you finish second you have to stand there. It's the right thing to do, see the other team get their medals, hold up the trophy," Bradley said. "That's a feeling that, as athletes and competitors, you don't like. You hope those are the type of things that help you grow in the future."

As for the near future, Bradley will begin preparations for a critical World Cup qualifier at Estadio Azteca on August 12. There's not likely to be many players from the Gold Cup roster that will participate in that game. Ching, though, should be in Mexico City for that grudge match.

"I'm not in that locker room, and I don't know what they're thinking," Ching said. "But if they think the next game is going to be anything like this, they've got another thing coming."