Mexico to Gold Cup 2009 Finals

July 23rd, 2009 | by: Andrea |

After an agonizing time, Mexico will meet the US for the Gold Cup 2009 Finals in New York on Sunday after beating Costa Rica 1-1(Mexico through on penalties).

Mexico
1 G. Ochoa (GK)
2 J. Magallón
5 F. Pinto
21 J. Valenzuela
22 E. Juárez
6 G. Torrado
8 I. Castro
7 A. Medina
13 P. Barrera
14 M. Sabah
17 G. Dos Santos

Subs

Castro
Franco
Vela

Costa Rica

1 K. Navas (GK)
3 F. Fernández
20 D. Marshall
2 D. Delgado
15 H. Wallace
5 C. Borges
6 C. Oviedo
14 A. Alonso
11 A. Herrón
9 A. Saborío
7 P. Brenes

Costa Rica wasted no time in attacking the Mexican goal. Herron came in close to almost score, but Efrain Juarez slid across goal just in time to keep out the ball during the opening minute.

In the 11th minute, it was Costa Rica once more who were on the attack. Alonso took a shot, and it hit just under the cross bar to keep the score level.

Mexico finally had an opportunity just before the half hour break. Medina flew down the right flank and sent in a shot to Miguel Sabah who was blocked by Costa Rican goalkeeper Keilor Navas blocking the way.

Then in the 40th minute Costa Rica once more had a chance. Alonso decided to surprise once more and took a shot from far out, but Ochoa was able to make the save.

Mexico was the one that had the last opportunity in the first half. In the 45th minute Barrera sent in a cross from the left towards Giovani. Dos Santos made contact with the ball, but didn’t give it any direction, and it went wide of the goal to keep the score at 0-0 during the first half.

Coming back, Mexico was given a penalty in the 56th minute for a hand ball by Costa Rican Brenes. With many of the Mexican players staying away from the ball it was finally Sabah that stepped up to take it. Sabah shot the ball to the right, but it was too soft, and easily saved by Navas to keep it as 0-0.

Near the end of the game in the 88th minute, Mexico put themselves up. Medina’s free kick was headed out, but Franco arrived and kicked it strongly back in and put Mexico up 1-0.

The excitement wouldn’t last as Costa Rica equalized with 10 secs left in added time in the 92nd. Magallon failed to take control of a ball and it went through to Ledezma who escaped from Castro and Valenzuela.

In the 91st min(extra time) Vela had a chance, but his shot was saved by Navas’ hand.

Then in the 97th min, Mexico once more had a chance. Vela received a cross from Giovani, but failed to put it in as it came down on his left foot.

In the 107th minute Herrera unleashed a strong shot, but Ochoa barely stretched to prevent it from going in.

Franco had an opportunity in the 112th minute but he headed it over the bar, from a free kick from Medina.

In the 117th minute Costa Rica came close when Valenzuela mishandled a ball, but Castro was able to get it out. It was then a corner kick where Oviedo shot, but ultimately Ochoa was able to control.

PENALTIES

Mexico(Franco)- Scores! Top of the net, coolly stets u

Costa Rica(Saborio)- Scores. Ochoa goes the wrong way and Costa Rica levels

Mexico(Giovani)- Scores! Just next to right post

Costa Rica(Borges)- Scores. Ochoa dives, and goes the wrong way

Mexico(Torrado)- Scores! Near center, goes right in.

Costa Rica(Ledezma)- Ochoa stops! Goes to the left and keeps the ball out to keep Mexico up.

Mexico(Juarez)- Scores! Sends Navas the wrong way on a soft penalty.

Costa Rica(Oviedo)- Scores. Just under the cross bar, and hits just past the line.

Mexico(Vela)- Scores! Sends to bottom left and sends Mexico through to the finals against the US.

And if you want to torture yourself again…it’s not the best quality, but the best condensed.

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Ellis

Just got back from the game. great time, but mexican fans way out of hand from start to finish. Two rules the concacaf should think about implementing for future tournys. 1, never have an hour intermission between games. what else are you going to do for an hour besides drink a lot more? 2, never give away anything, not even a program! its just going to end up on the field anyway. seriously i was embarrassed to call myself a mexico fan. costa rican subs couldnt even warm up without beer being throw at them. Mexico we need to class it up!
Aaron

I thought the same. I mean that’s why the US and Concacaf fans/teams get annoyed by us. I thought it was a game with many wasted oppurtunities but very suspensful. I would have loved to have been there but sadly I was at home watching. USA Vs Mexico should be a fun warm-up game to the WCQ next month. A game involving bragging rights, best team in the region status and of course, the politics that hateful fans from both sides involve will be something worth watching. Ultimately, I always want Mexico to win every game and I am a die hard fan but I see this game being won by the US.

Ps~ Does this Gold Cup actually have any worth? Meaning does the winner represent Concacaf in the Confeds Cup 13. Also does anyone else think that the Gold Cup should be more the Euro and Copa America? Every 4 years?
asdf

When I saw mexico time wasting at the end I had that bad feeling. Teams usually play a lot worse when they do that and I was surprised because I’ve never seen mexico do it before. Very exciting and tense game, stupid crowd.
Hugo

It was a very exciting game, Costa Rica could have won if the would have not wasted so much opportunities. It was very shameful to see the Mexican fans throwing garbage in every corner kick.. ane even worse… Torrado´s attitude. Penalty kicks are a matter of luck, and Mexico was lucky last night
http://atletico.theoffside.com Al

Great game. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I missed out going to the game (the stadium is 30 mins away) but oh well. The fans can be terrible like you all saw last night. When I saw the semi vs. Guadeloupe two years ago, a fight broke out in front of me after these Chivas fans threw cups at these America fans. I was like “I’m here to watch la SELECCION not argue about which club is better pendejos”
Hugo

Good point Al
Andrea

I agree with what everyone is saying. The fans always ruin some aspect of the game, which is really such a shame. I think that Torrado should have tried to calm them down, but in a way I understand how he was saying no because it wasn’t “his country.” Eh, but it is his people.

I can only imagine the crap that’ll break out against the US…which even though I’ll be hundreds of miles away is still extremely embarrassing.

I went to the Guadeloupe game and I didn’t see anything(but I was sitting kinda faraway too) and thought behavior would improve. But maybe it was just because there weren’t as many people.

Aaron- This doesn’t give anyone anything besides bragging rights. The next Gold Cup will determine who goes to the Confed Cup.
Ellis

sorry guys i was at the game and didnt tivo it. i missed what happend with el toro. can someone explain?
Andrea

Ellis- The referee asked Torrado to calm down the fans who kept on throwing things down at the Costa Rican players during corner kicks. He kept on saying “it’s not my country” and things like that. He should have stepped up since pretty much the people were there to see the Mexican national team.
Richard Bridge

Mexico might have been the power house of the concacaf in the past but its a whole different story today and its a fact that the Mexican fan can not except.Soccer seems to be the only way Mexico can feel that they are not just another Poor Latino country in the region. The truth is that what makes the Central American countries better is the prejudice and arrogance of the Mexican Fan and Players, we do not have an inferiority complex we just now who we are. QUE VIVA CENTRO AMERICA!
no way joe

in my opinion final score will be decided depending on Mexico’s performance because on the other side I don’t expect the usa to play any better or worse I know exactly what they will do. usa has a perfect working cattenacio style(don’t know what that means ask the Italians) so Mexico has to be precise with the passes because on the others side theres going to be a team who defends with 9 and waits for the the perfect chance to counter attack and score. Hopely Mexico has learn after many defeats how does team usa play soccer and can do something about it if not it will be a movie that I have seen many times before
pd: central-american friend if you don’t have an inferiority complex why are you guys always comparing yourselves with Mexico? Seriously everytime I hear a centroamericano complaining an criticizing everything related to Mexico makes me feel that we belong to third world countries not because of our economic situation but because of our mentality
mexicowokealreadyLOVeyou mexico

MExico is THe shit Now like it or Not Mexico beat usa all the way
usa 0 vs mexico 5 believe it or not Mexico is gonna go up and is going to get a world cup pretty soon. what happend to all those soccer players that pick on a little team (”b”) it goes to show you That no matter how taller you are then a Mexican sooner or later Mexican will do whatever they can do beat you. central americans you all need to shut up because you are worst then a Mexican you dont respect Your mothers or your neighboors you want 2 change the world but not even you can change your own country. fix your country ???
you never won a world cup
or a gold cup
or a pichichi
17 world cup
or anything to say that you are More superior thn your Daddy mexico Respect your Father and shut your Mouths sore losers. i thought central americans were more taller then a Mexican well let me tell you this WHat happend 2 you? i didnt see you winning a Gold cup 2day jejejeje
mexicowokealreadyLOVeyou mexico

mexican will do whatever they can to beat YOu!
mexicoISyourFAtherCentralamericans

Costa rica sucks
those players Dont know how to play soccer
they only play from people from their own country
and from central america because they cannot beat A mexican team???
Mexico has score more goals on you Costa rica and u only score on mexico only one time u still act like if you won a world/gold cup or something well let me tell uthis those cups that you have are not SUB 17 WORLD CUP WORLD CUP,GOLD CUP OR A pichichi no matter how big or strong you are to us mexicans we are not afraid to kick your ass when it comes to soccer you are weak to us. Mexico today won the gold cup 2009 respect your Father
jejejejeje
Armando

So I missed the game this weekend. Today I saw the highlights on YouTube and I’m VERY disappointed that the some of the players were not singing the Mexican anthem. Don’t they know it? Don’t they care? WTF!