Mexico suffered more than expected to make it to the semi-finals of the Gold Cup as they beat Costa Rica 1-0 with a penalty kick in the final minute of extra time. While Walter Lopez signaled that play should be resumed from a goal kick, his assistant raised his flag and made Lopez change his mind to make it a penalty kick.

Costa Rica had mostly played to keep Mexico away from scoring and they were successful for 122 minutes. It was in the last minute of the game, in the last play, where things would change and give El Tri a very clear chance to win the game before it went to penalty kicks. 

While Oribe Peralta should have been awarded a red card moments earlier, he was the one that fooled the assistant to make him think that the defender had touched him inside the box. Subsequently the penalty was called, Andres Guardado took the ball and shot it to the right side of the goalkeeper for the ball to go in. 

WATCH: You be the judge, was it a penalty or not?

Esta fue la polémica jugada donde Oribe Peralta es derribado en el área para que se marcará el penal. https://t.co/EQ7YTXhNw5

— Copa Oro 2015 (@copaoro2015) July 20, 2015

Still after the game, the striker of Club America told Miguel Herrera that he felt some contact from the defender. The Mexican manager doesn't believe that Oribe intentionally tried to fool the referee as it is not something that characterizes the veteran player.

"In the locker room I asked Oribe about the call and he told me that Roy Miller had thrown himself upon him. We must see the video," El Piojo said in the press conference.

Herrera had been complaining all tournament long about a poor job by the officials, but had nothing bad to say about they tonight. He felt that Mexico was awarded something they had been working for all game. El Tri had a total of 21 shots and five of them on goal. Costa Rica got two shots on goal out of eight.

Social Media quickly reacted to the incident most deem as unfair

Robbed. Referee had a great 110 minutes, but he blew the Oribe tackle, missed the deflection on Esquivel's shot & invented a penalty. Awful.

— Zack Goldman (@ThatDamnYank) July 20, 2015

Been watching the replay and in the lowest of keys it was a penalty. Oribe did a great job at selling it though.

— eric (@FlaquitoSport) July 20, 2015

@mexicoworldcup maybe it wasn't a penalty but Mexico definitely played better and deserve the win

— chivo franco (@chivo_7torres) July 20, 2015

Mexico definitely deserved to win that game so no one really cares if it was a penalty or not.

— Hilda Rdz (@PaolaRdz21) July 20, 2015

The ref saw El Chapo in the stands so he had to give Mexico the penalty.

— Josh (@Joshx13_) July 20, 2015

It is important to mention that Paolo Wanchope, Costa Rica's manager, even shook Miguel Herrera's hand at the end of the game. Mexico will play Panama once again in the semi-final just like in 2013. Two years ago, Los Canaleros made it to the final after defeating Mexico 2-1. The United States and Jamaica will define who the other finalist will be. 

Wanchope is a class-act despite the circumstances

Costa Rica manager Paulo Wanchope on the referees' questionable last-minute penalty call, via a translator: "They're human."

— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) July 20, 2015