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 US, 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 US into the final of the tournament, for North and Central America and the Caribbean teams, for the third consecutive edition.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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.
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 US in the final two years ago.
Tomorrow’s final will be held at Giants Stadium in New York.
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