Mexico Beats Costa Rica
(Reuters) – Mexico beat Costa Rica on
penalties in a tense semi-final on Thursday
to reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup final where
they will play the United States, 2-0
victors over Honduras.
Costa Rica's Froylan Ledezma went from hero
to villain, equalizing in injury time at 1-1
but then missing the penalty in the shootout
that cost his team a place in the final.
In the earlier semi, goals from Clarence
Goodson and Kenny Cooper took the United
States into the final of the tournament, for
North and Central America and the Caribbean
teams, for the third consecutive edition.
Honduras had the better of the early
exchanges, going close in the 20th minute
with a well-struck effort from Marvin Chavez
that was tipped over the bar by Troy
Perkins.
Midfielder Stuart Holden was impressive
again and in the 43rd minute produced a
curling free-kick that Donis Escobar tipped
over and then Brian Ching struck the bar
with a deflected effort. The pressure paid
off on the stroke of half-time when defender
Goodson rose well to head home Holden's
corner. Honduras were unable to create many
chances despite having plenty of midfield
possession although Carlos Costly might have
done better with a close range effort in the
83rd minute, which Perkins did well to
block.
In the final minute, Ching back-heeled to
Holden who played a low ball across the face
of the goal that was turned in by substitute
Cooper.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Costa Rica had plenty of chances to get the
lead against Mexico, Armando Alonso hit the
post in the 12th minute, but Mexico should
have been ahead at the break when Giovani
Dos Santos headed wide from in front of
goal.
Mexico were awarded a penalty in the 58th
minute when Costa Rica defender Freddy
Fernandez was ruled to have handled the ball
but Miguel Sabah's soft penalty was easily
saved by Keilor Navas.
The Mexicans looked to have grabbed a
fortunate victory when they went ahead in
the 88th minute, Guillermo Franco scrambling
the ball home, but the celebrations from the
large Mexican crowd at Soldier Field proved
premature.
In the second minute of injury time Ledezma
raced on to a flick on from Alvaro Saborio,
ran past the hesitating Mexican defense and
rocketed home a fine shot.
Again Costa Rica had the better
opportunities in extra-time but with no
breakthrough the game was decided by spot
kicks -- Ledezma being the only man failing
to score.
The forward's well struck penalty was
superbly saved by Mexico keeper Guillermo
Ochoa and Carlos Vela kept his cool to give
the Mexicans a chance at revenge for their
loss to the United States in the final two
years ago. |
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