Mexico advances to CONCACAF semifinal over Costa Rica after penalty in

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – A poor decision by the referee in the 120th minute ended Costa Rica’s run at the Gold Cup. Unfortunately, they awarded the penalty. There is massive pressure from the Mexican media on Miguel “El Piojo” Herrera to win this tournament, if they are eliminated this early it is likely that this will be his last match in charge.

Mexico in this Copa beat Cuba. Carlos Vela showed off his abilities with a great goal shortly after the break, and the Mexicans were on the road to entering into the quarterfinals with proud feelings. Los Ticos captain, Bryan Ruiz started, but was substituted in the 79th minute for an extra defender in Roy Miller as Costa Rica tried to stop Mexico’s offense and prepare for extra time.

One of the best chances of the half fell to Johan Venegas in the 35th minute. Since his suspension from the national team in 2010, Vela was seen as the missing piece to take Mexico to the promised land. El Tri lacked the finishing in the final third throughout the match.

After losing 2-1 to Panama in last year’s semi-finals, six-time champion Mexico will seek revenge and an eighth trip to the finals of the biennial North American regional football championship when they meet again on Wednesday in Atlanta. However, since then it has all been downhill, and they failed to find any penetration against the 10-men of Guatemala in their second game, before looking at sorts in their 4-4 draw with Trinidad and Tobago during the week. The two titles are his only wins on the ATP Tour. A exhausted Panama squad may present the best opportunity to work his way into top scoring form before the expected rivalry clash with the United States appears on July 26 in Philadelphia.

As a reminder of what is on the line here in the Gold Cup. However, his 18-yard attempt sailed over the bar.

A controversial penalty in the dying stages sent Mexico through to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals.

Marvin Phillip saved the seventh-round shot of Alberto Quintero to put the Canaleros on the edge of elimination but Trinidad and Tobago’s Daneil Cyrus booted his next shot over the crossbar to extend the drama. But if he doesn’t do that in the next two matches, he and the rest of his teammates may be looked upon as failures.

This is your Gold Cup open gamethread.