Thanks to young star striker Raul Jimenez, Mexico are headed for a rematch with Panama in the semifinals of Gold Cup. El Tri struggled throughout their quarterfinal against Trinidad and Tobago, but Jimenez placed a brilliant finish past Jan Michael Williams in the last 10 minutes to seal a 1-0 win.
Mexico vs. Trinidad and Tobago, 2013 Gold Cup: Final score 1-0, Raul Jimenez the hero
Mexico were less than impressive again on Saturday, but Raul Jimenez scored late to send them past Trinidad and Tobago and into the semifinals of Gold Cup.
Jimenez looked dangerous early and often for Mexico. He had a goal disallowed in the 3rd minute for a narrow offside call that could have gone either way. T&T didn't have many chances on the night and forced Jonathan Orozco into his only difficult save in the 8th minute when Andre Boucaud hit a powerful drive from the top of the box following a corner that Orozco tipped over the bar.
The first half ended rather unceremoniously and the start of the second half wasn't considerably more lively. While Williams had a good goal in net for Trinidad and Tobago, making 10 saves, only a couple of them were more than routine. Up until the goal, Mexico's best opportunity was a shot by Jimenez that snuck by Williams, but bounced off the post and deflected clear in the 55th minute.
It looked like T&T were going to be able to hold on for extra time until the 84th minute, when Jimenez stole the win for El Tri. He placed a first-time shot off a near post cross by Miguel Layun to the far post, curled around the hand of Williams to break the hearts of the underdogs.
More in Soccer:
See More:
