Mexico Need to Be Miles Better in Semifinal Versus Panama to Advance at Gold Cup
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Mexico survived to live another day in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup after advancing by way of a fortuitous penalty call in the 122nd minute against Costa Rica.
Although they did look the better side for most of the quarter-final contest, El Tri followed a haunting trend that has marred them over the first four games of the competition. Mexico dominated the possession battle and the number of chances, but once again they were extremely wasteful in the final third.
The starting forward pair of Oribe Peralta and Carlos Vela put together a highlight reel worth of awful misses during their time on the pitch. Of the 16 shots attempted by El Tri, seven went on target. When they came near the target, they either found the body of Costa Rica goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado or soared the chances high and wide.
However, Peralta did earn the game-winning penalty in the waning seconds of extra time, when he went to ground after apparent contact with Roy Miller. The replays showed little to no contact was made in front of the Costa Rica net.
Most will argue Mexico were bailed out by the referee, but some will also say they deserved to come out on top because of how they handled Costa Rica, especially after the start of the second half.
"In the first half, Costa Rica played well. We had to control more of the ball and create more goal opportunities," Mexico boss Miguel Herrera said of his approach in the second half.
Just like any team in a major competition, the goal is to get better with every game, and El Tri did improve in some aspects. But when the main title rival of Herrera's team scored six against Cuba in its quarter-final, the comparisons are hard to escape.
Yes, Mexico have the tougher draw, but as the other favorite alongside the United States entering the Gold Cup, they have not lived up to expectations yet.
Instead of instilling their status as a favorite to win the title, Mexico once again stumbled through a match and almost let the unpredictable fate of a penalty shootout decide their fortune.
Now El Tri are set to take on Panama in the semi-final round on Wednesday night at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Despite the shortcomings in the finishing department, there are some positives to take out of the match for Herrera.
His changes, starting with the entrance of Carlos Esquivel in the 61st minute for Hector Herrera, seemed to make a difference. Within five minutes of entering the field, Esquivel created two chances in front of goal. Unfortunately, he hit the top of the crossbar in the 64th minute and put an attempt over the net in the 66th minute.
In the 81st minute, Jesus "Tecatito" Corona came on for Vela, who had countless opportunities to finish the match in regulation, including one in the 69th minute that he missed on a brilliant counter.
Corona entered the match with an exciting burst of energy, but he brought too much razzle dazzle to the pitch instead of the creation of chances. If Herrera can hone Corona's talent in the right fashion over the next few days in training, he should be able to get an even more impressive shift off the bench out of him against Panama.
The two who came in were great. Corona and Esquivel have been very important. They have been doing what they need do," Herrera said of the performances of his first two substitutes.
El Tri also drew another strike of luck since Panama went to penalties against Trinidad and Tobago in the first semi-final match of the day at MetLife Stadium. Since both teams are facing the same set of circumstances, the only way fitness will play a role in Wednesday's contest is in the form of unused players or substitutes, which is where Mexico may benefit from Corona or Giovani Dos Santos the most.
This specific situation could help Mexico if Dos Santos is healthy. The dynamic LA Galaxy attacker attempted to warm up on Sunday but felt discomfort in his thigh in the process.
"We wanted to see how he felt. I told him to warm up as if he was about to go into the game. He did not feel confident and that's why he went back to the bench," Herrera said of Dos Santos' status. "If he's 100 percent [for the semi-final], there's no doubt he will go in."
One department in which Mexico hold a major advantage is talent. If the likes of Peralta and Vela can find a way to turn into the scorers they should be, Mexico could run all over Panama and into the July 26 final at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Based on what we've seen so far at the Gold Cup, it is hard to believe El Tri have the best collection of forwards in North America, but all it takes is one game to change the perception around a group of talented players.
Joe Tansey is covering the Gold Cup for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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