In a matchup against two darlings of the 2014 World Cup, the game was more about who had the most momentum, and a large amount of luck, in the end than any other factor. Playing in an incredibly humid MetLife stadium in New Jersey in from of 74,000 plus, the game was hotly contested but for those who appreciated clinical finishes were left with wishing they had seen many of the chances created taken care of. Costa Rica came out playing pragmatic and clever, building from the back and marching up with intention. Costa Rica’s Coach Paulo Wanchope forced a deliberate, offensive surge that resulted in a number of chances that should have been goals in the first half. Joel Campbell who plays for Arsenal in the EPL woke up from his tournament long stupor to be an absolute pest down the sidelines.
Gold Cup: Mexico advances to semifinals in Questionable Fashion
The tide turned tremendously in the second half. Whether the Tico’s of Costa Rica ran out of steam, or Mexico picked some up, El Tri were near unstoppable in the second half. It was a near onslaught of chances for Mexico, but for a long time it looked like none of it would bear fruit. As regulation ended, the same theme of Mexican domination continued in the first half of extra time and the arrival of Jesus Corona was cemented. He will be a special player for years to come if this tournament and the Copa America has anything to say for it. In the second extra time things started to balance out and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa needed every inch of his outstretched hand to stop a sure Joel Campbell game winner.
In the end the game ended on a Penalty Kick in the 124th minute on a questionable called foul in the box.
Mexican captain Andres Guardado stepped up and buried the kick.
Oribe Peralta, who was fouled in the box, had been reprieved of a red card just minutes earlier.
Mexico did outplay Costa Rica for the majority of the game but it was an unfortunate way for a game to end that was about to go into penalty kicks seconds later. Mexico now faces Panama in the Semifinals on Wednesday.
Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images
