Mexico won Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday night, tying Costa Rica 0-0. They will now play Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals.
Santiago Giménez of Mexico looked to have scored on a bicycle kick in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half, but after a video review, Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar disallowed the goal. The ball was lofted into the penalty area by Carlos Rodríguez after a free kick, but Giménez seemed offside. A headed clearance attempt by Orlando Galo went in front of Giménez’s goal, and he beat goalkeeper Keylor Navas with an overhead kick, plus-three to plus-two.
Despite finishing tied with the Ticos at seven points, Mexico, who had won all ten of their Gold Cup games against Costa Rica, won the group on goal differential.
Next weekend, El Tri, who won their opening two games against the Dominican Republic and Suriname, will play Saudi Arabia, while the Costa Ricans will take on the United States.
Four regular starters for Costa Rica will be absent. Due to their accumulation of yellow cards, midfielder Carlos Mora and forward Manfred Ugalde, who has three goals in the tournament, are suspended. The left hand of defender Ariel Lassiter is fractured, while the left leg of attacker Warren Madrigal is also damaged.
