Gold Cup: Mexico and Panama make semis

East Rutherford (USA): Mexico and Panama advanced to a Gold Cup semifinal showdown with triumphs Sunday, one thanks to a dramatic save and the other on a penalty kick after a controversial call. Mexican captain Andres Guardado scored the lone goal from the spot in the 124th minute to lift Mexico over Costa Rica 1-0 while Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo denied Lester Peltier in the ninth round of penalty kicks as the Canaleros advanced 6-5 over Trinidad and Tobago after a 1-1 draw. “I feel real joy because today was a real blessing to be able to advance to the next round,” Penedo said.

After losing 1-2 to Panama in last year’s semifinal, six-time champion Mexico will seek revenge and an eighth trip to the finals of the biennial North American regional football championship when they meet again on Wednesday in Atlanta.

That winner earns a berth in next Sunday’s final at Philadelphia against the winner of Wednesday’s other semi-final between Jamaica and holders United States.

After more than two hours of goal-less football, Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez whistled a hotly contested foul on Costa Rica’s Roy Miller following Mexican striker Oribe Peralta hurling himself onto the ground trying to reach a crossing pass.

“I’m happy with the effort of the players. We were superior. We made an important step,” Mexican coach Miguel Herrera said.

The phantom foul brought Guardado to the spot and he blasted the ball into the left side of the net for the victory, delivering the only loss of the event for Costa Rica, which reached the World Cup quarterfinals last year in Brazil. Costa Rica coach Paulo Wanchope said he did not feel as if his job was in jeopardy after the defeat. “I do not feel out of the team by being eliminated,” he said. “My players should be proud of how they played. Some of them were exhausted,” he added.

Panama and Trinidad and Tobago were even at 1-1 through extra time, Luis Tejada giving Panama the lead in the 37th minute but Trinidad and Tobago equalising on a Kenwyne Jones header in the 54th minute.

And while Panama advanced, it took a save-or-lose situation in the seventh round of penalty kicks for them to escape.

Each team missed two of its first three penalties. Armando Cooper and Harold Cummings each scored for Panama to open rounds but Kenwyne Jones and Radanfah Abu Bakr answered to keep Trinidad and Tobago going.

Marvin Phillip saved the seventh-round shot of Alberto Quintero to put the Canaleros on the edge of elimination but Trinidad and Tobago’s Daneil Cyrus booted his next shot over the crossbar to extend the drama.

“The key moment was when (Cyrus) took his kick and if they made it they win. The referee told me that and I thought ‘Ugh,’ but then he missed and we went on to win and now we can all smile,” ,” Penedo added.

Penedo made two saves in the penalties session, the decisive one set up by Valentin Pimentel’s goal to start the ninth round.