Mexico, Panama to meet in Gold Cup semifinals

More than 70,000 football fans flocked to the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal match between the National Men’s Football Teams of Costa Rica and Mexico. Celso Borges, Joel Campbell and Johan Venegas were very close to scoring the first goal of the match; El Tri responded with a couple of risky counterattacks by Andres Guardado and Oribe Peralta.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Mexico earned chance after chance to score against Costa Rica. Costa Rica’s dream of winning the cup ends in the hardest of ways.

All of the lady luck that Costa Rica had in not conceding throughout the first 115+ minutes changed to the other side of the field.

Just seconds away from taking the game into a shootout, a stunning yellow card against Costa Rica brought about the one and only penalty kick needed to send the Ticos home from the Gold Cup. However, Mexico’s attack, minus injured stars Giovani dos Santos and Javier Hernández, couldn’t finish on almost a dozen opportunities near goal. Two of the best teams in the competition will clash in the quarter finals tonight, and although Mexico will be favourites, Costa Rica certainly have the players to cause an upset if Mexico are not at their absolute best. But Mexico fans have had to watch as the U.S. have steamrollered their way into the semi finals, while their own team has failed to spark since their destruction of a Cuba team lacking numerous players, and in chaos as they arrived for the tournament. Vela did net a brilliant strike in the second half of the wild 4-4 draw with Trinidad and Tobago, but if he were in top form, Mexico would have finished off the match when they were up 2-1. Panama eliminated El Tri from the last Gold Cup in the semifinals, so the Mexicans will be out for revenge.

Peralta was leaping to try to head in a cross in front of the goal and Miller appeared to make little contact with him. Unfortunately, it will be remembered for the call that gave Mexico a berth in Wednesday’s semifinal.

Captain Guardado, who scored two in the group stage, made no mistake from the spot to break La Sele hearts and keep under-fire coach Miguel Herrera in the job. Panama beat Trinidad and Tobago on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw through extra time.