Costa Rica |
1 - 1
This match has ended. Upcoming related matches:
|
Mexico |
But could it also be their last game of the tournament? It will be down to Costa Rica to make that happen against the wish of El Tri.
It seems like Aguirre’s suspension has positively pushed Mexico’s strength in mentality. Since his dismissal in the group stages against Panama, Mexico have bagged two victories along with two clean sheets as they booked their place in the semifinals of the Gold Cup tournament.
After toping Group C thanks to a 2-0 victory against Guadeloupe, the Mexicans set up a quarterfinal date with Haiti whom they heavily defeated 4-0 last Sunday. These two results surely gave Mexico the respect that they own in terms of pedigree.
Many thought that coach Aguirre’s suspension was going to bring disaster in the camp of the Mexicans, but his players have so far managed to put authority beyond anguish.
Thursday’s semifinal encounter against Costa Rica will mark Mexico’s last match without the presence of Javier Aguirre on the touch line and we are yet to see how the coach’s absence will work on the squad once more.
Costa Rica are tough, high-profiled, and thus poised to create more worries than any other team has ever inflicted on Mexico in this Gold Cup competition. But El Tri also possess its group of key players like Giovanni Dos Santos and Sabbah. Sabbah is Mexico’s leading goal scorer in the Gold Cup tournament with four goals – two of which came against Haiti last weekend.
But El Tri may not only have to rely on their striking potential. The Mexicans have netted nine times and conceded only one goal in the competition. Still, they’ll need to work hard again to protect their lines at the back. Scoring a couple of goals sometimes is enough, but when defense is not properly executed, it could also prove too little.
How will Mexico deal with against the quarterfinal stage’s biggest winners, Costa Rica?
Mexico and Costa Rica both had a four-goal margin victory last Sunday, but Costa Rica scored more with five goals which sunk Guadeloupe.
Mexico and Costa Rica are both unbeaten in the Gold Cup with three wins and one draw each.
But the big difference is that whereas Mexico are looking to add yet another trophy to their Gold Cup cabinet, Costa Rica are hoping to become champions of the CONCACAF region for the first ever time in their history.
Their overwhelming 5-1 victory against the Guadeloupians in the quarterfinals has given a strong warning to the rest of the teams left in the Gold Cup. Most especially, it has blown the horn on Mexico as they are next on Costa Rica’s list of opponents.
In 2003, Costa Rica’s hopes of reaching the final of the Gold Cup tournament were dashed by Mexico. Can they take revenge on El Tri at the same stage this year?
Analytically, there is no real favorite ahead of this big clash. Only Thursday will unveil the first team to qualify to the final of the Gold Cup tournament.