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    - Photo via Concacaf -
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Published on Monday, July 10,
2023
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff and wire services
Costa
Rica Men's Soccer Team was eliminated
from the 2023 Gold Cup following the
results of the 2-0 Mexico victory over
the
Ticos. The
quarterfinal game took place on
Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, in
Arlington, Texas, United States,
leaving Costa Rica without any
possibility of continuing to the next
level. The Gold
Cup, organized by the Confederation of
North, Central America and Caribbean
Association Football (Concacaf), is
the main association football
competition of the men's national
football teams determining the
continental champion of North America,
Central America and the Caribbean. According
to Concacaf, Mexico remains unbeaten
in the Gold Cup, improving their
all-time record versus the Ticos in
the tournament. The first
half saw both teams find opportunities
to create dangerous chances but fail
to find the final touch that resulted
in a goal. Just before the half-hour
mark, one of Mexico’s best chances
came when Uriel Antuna made one of his
breakaways down the right wing, but
Costa Rica was able to clear the
danger as he entered the penalty area,
unable to find his teammates making
runs to the back post. The
second half was similarly tense with
both teams looking to secure their
passage to the next round, but Mexico
was able to nose ahead shortly after
the halftime break.
Mexico earned a good chance with a penalty in minute 50 when Henry Martin was fouled in the box by Costa Rica's Kendall Waston.
Orbelin Pineda stepped up to take the kick and sent his effort to Costa Rica Kevin Chamorro’s left, beating the shot-stopper and putting the North American team ahead 1-0 on the scoreboard.
The lead almost became two goals in minute 85, when Mexico was able to break away after a good moment of transition started by Julian Araujo.
Then, Santiago Gimenez fired a left-footed shot from outside the box that bounced just wide of Chamorro’s post and out for a goal kick. Gimenez hit the target shortly after, putting a header onto a cross from the left side, but he couldn’t beat the Costa Rican goalkeeper.
But Chamorro would be beaten in minute 87 as Mexico's Roberto Alvarado got loose and cut into the penalty area, centering for a close-range effort by Erick Sanchez that doubled Costa Rica with an advantage to 2-0.
With the victory, Mexico moves into the semifinals.
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