MIAMI, Florida – This Friday at 7:00 PM ET, Concacaf will be airing a re-broadcast of two Concacaf Gold Cup classics, the first being the 2019 Gold Cup quarterfinal between Mexico and Costa Rica, followed by the 2017 Gold Cup semifinal between Jamaica and Mexico. Both matches will be shown on Concacaf’s Facebook and YouTube pages, plus the Concacaf App.
It is never a dull affair when Mexico and Costa Rica meet, and their 2019 Gold Cup quarterfinal at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas was no different.
Both sides had chances to open the scoring in the first half, but good defending and solid goalkeeping was on full display.
Just when everyone expected the first 45 minutes to end scoreless, Mexico would grab a 1-0 lead in the 44’. Raul Jimenez received a pass deep in the Costa Rica area and after his initial shot was blocked, the FW collected the rebound, made a slight move to his right and finished past Costa Rica GK Leonel Moreira for the score.
The response from the Ticos was almost immediate, as five minutes after the re-start, FW Joel Campbell won a penalty by bursting pass a pair of defenders before being fouled from behind in the Mexico area.
Bryan Ruiz stepped up to take the spot kick and coolly tucked his effort under diving Mexico GK Guillermo Ochoa to level the score 1-1.
El Tricolor sought a winning score before full-time and had two excellent looks through Jimenez and Carlos Rodriguez, but Moreira was sensational in making a pair of saves to keep his side even.
It was still 1-1 after 90 minutes, so the two sides went to extra time where Costa Rica nearly won it through Jonathan McDonald, whose stinging shot was saved by Ochoa.
Matters had to be settled in a penalty shootout and after Carlos Salcedo converted to put Mexico ahead 5-4, Ochoa made the decisive stop, blocking Keysher Fuller’s attempt to secure Mexico’s passage to the semifinals.
