AFP, East Rutherford :
Mexico and Panama advanced to a Gold Cup semi-final showdown with triumphs on Sunday, one thanks to a dramatic save and the other on a penalty kick after a controversial call.
Mexican captain Andres Guardado scored the lone goal from the spot in the 124th minute to lift Mexico over Costa Rica 1-0 while Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo denied Lester Peltier in the ninth round of penalty kicks to win 6-5 over Trinidad and Tobago after a 1-1 draw.
“I feel real joy because today was a real blessing to be able to advance to the next round,” Penedo said.
After losing 1-2 to Panama in last year’s semi-finals, six-time champions 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. That winners earn a berth in the next Sunday’s final at Philadelphia against the winners of the Wednesday’s other semi-final between Jamaica and holders United States.
After more than two hours of goalless football, Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez whistled a hotly contested foul on Costa Rica’s Roy Miller following Mexican striker Oribe Peralta hurling himself onto the ground trying to reach a crossing pass.
“I’m happy with the effort of the players,” Mexican coach Miguel Herrera said. “We were superior. We made an important step.” The phantom foul brought Guardado to the spot and he blasted the ball into the left side of the net for the victory, delivering the only loss of the event for Costa Rica, which reached the World Cup quarter-finals last year in Brazil.
