Mexico vs. Panama: Where and When to Watch Gold Cup Semifinal Tilt

Panama bested Mexico 2-1 in the opening Group A match of the Gold Cup, and the two sides now prepare for a rematch in the Semifinals with a Finals berth on the line.

Mexico, fresh off a 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago last round, is eyeing its fourth consecutive Gold Cup finals appearance, having won each of the last two editions of the CONCACAF tournament.

For Panama, this will be its best opportunity to make a return trip to the finals, having lost to the United States in a penalty shootout in 2005.

Where: Cowboys Stadium; Arlington, Texas

When: Wednesday, July 24, at 10 p.m. ET

Television: Fox Soccer

Streaming: Fox Soccer 2Go

 Panama put on a show in the quarterfinals with a 6-1 drubbing of Cuba—a team that needed a 4-0 win in the final match of the group stage to sneak into the knockout round. While Mexico is certainly better equipped for taking down Panama, it won’t face an easy task.

The Mexican side has struggled mightily in international play of late, and manager Jose Manuel de la Torre has been on the hot seat as a result. If de la Torre is to prepare his squad for further World Cup play, he’ll need to get the most out of his squad and finish the Gold Cup on a high note.

The biggest issues facing Mexico involve an attack that features plenty of talent and very little coordination. As good as Mexico is in the final third, it has struggled to work as a cohesive unit, and the results speak for themselves.

In its four Gold Cup matches, Mexico has scored just seven goals, three of which came against an overmatched Martinique side in the group stage. Against Panama, those scoring chances won’t be so easy to come by.

The Panamanians have committed fewer penalties than any team in the tournament to this point (42) and have played with tremendous discipline at both ends of the pitch. Having allowed just two goals in four matches, Panama is going to make this match a litmus test for what Mexico is capable of in the coming months.

Panama also boasts a capable attack with enough firepower to shock Mexico for a second consecutive match in their series. Gabriel Torres leads that attack with five goals in Gold Cup play, tied with the United States’ Chris Wondolowski in that category. If Torres is on form Wednesday, Mexico is going to need some early scoring chances to take control of the match.

That has been a problem for Mexico, but it’s also the key to a victory in this contest. Without an early lead and the ability to settle in to a more relaxed approach, the pressure could be enough to give Panama the edge in its pursuit of another upset bid.