Gold Cup 2017: Costa Rica, Canada on Top of Group A After 1-1 Draw

Group A at the 2017 Gold Cup has gotten quite competitive after the second matchday Tuesday in Houston.

Costa Rica and Canada, which each won their first games, played to a 1-1 draw to each sit with four points at the top of the table. Canada currently leads with plus-two goal differential.

However, the big story was the second match, which featured a 0-0 draw between French Guiana and Honduras. However, French Guiana used an illegal player, which will likely result in a 3-0 forfeit handed to Honduras, per Alexi Lalas of Fox Sports.

This will put Honduras right off the lead with three points and in great shape with goal differential.

Canada 1, Costa Rica 1

Costa Rica controlled the majority of the match, holding more than 60 percent of possession while putting 10 shots on goal compared to just one for Canada, per ESPN.

However, the teams still ended up even where it mattered in the 1-1 draw.

It was Alphonso Davies who got Canada going at the start of the match, showcasing his speed and finishing ability on his 26th-minute goal on a cross from Scott Arfield. Fox Soccer captured the go-ahead score:

There was obvious excitement about the 16-year-old after the goal, his third in two games at the Gold Cup:

Costa Rica figured things out after that, showcasing more aggressiveness and earning several more chances in the final third.

The squad equalized in the 42nd minute on this athletic header by Francisco Calvo off a corner kick, via Univision Deportes:

If not for some big saves in goal by Milan Borjan, things could have been much worse for Canada at halftime but the teams went into the break even at 1-1.

The stalemate continued into the second half, with Costa Rica creating several outstanding opportunities without finding a way to finish.

The ball stayed in the Ticos offensive zone for virtually all of the last 20 minutes of the match, but they couldn't get the game-winner and had to settle for a draw.

Costa Rica will wrap up its group stage play with a match against French Guiana Friday while Canada will take on Honduras. Both games will be played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Honduras 0, French Guiana 0

While the match itself was competitive, it was officially over as soon as Florent Malouda stepped onto the field at the opening kickoff.

After spending his entire career playing for France, the 37-year-old veteran had attempted a return to French Guiana, but he was ruled ineligible before the tournament by CONCACAF.

As Lalas noted, the underdogs simply didn't seem to care:

The disciplinary committee will have to review the situation and come up with an official ruling for this match.

In the meantime, the game went on as scheduled with Malouda helping his side remain competitive.

The two teams had a lot of opportunities in the first half, but neither was able to get onto the scoresheet as it stayed 0-0 at halftime.

Fox Soccer still noted the lack of genuine stakes in the match:

Results aside, the second half featured plenty of excitement with wide-open play and several good shots at the net. Some were stopped by great saves, others by the post and some narrowly went wide.

The match remained scoreless, however, giving both teams a single point for the moment.

However, fans should expect a Honduras win in the standings as soon as all is said and done.