CONCACAF Gold Cup: Costa Rica vs. Mexico

Game 2 of the doubleheader started at 9 pm and what else could you ask for when sitting in a luxury box at Soldier Field with unlimited food and drinks – extra time and penalty kicks to make the night last as long as possible.

After the hour long break between matches, Liam and I walked back into the luxury box and to our surprise a Soldier Field employee asked to see our tickets. I guess we did not “look” like we were supposed to be in the box with the CONCACAF employees and guests.

The Match
At one point during the match when Costa Rica took a corner kick, the Mexican fans were throwing beverages from the stands on the Costa Rican player. I have heard that those “beverages” may not actually be beer or soda but cups full of urine – so watch yourself when drinks start flying at a Mexican soccer match. The PA addressed the crowd and stated that fans should “respect players on the field.”

At first we thought we would be heading into extra time scoreless. The match was 0-0 when Guillermo Franco sent the ball into the net and the mainly Mexican crowd into a frenzy at the 88th minute. I thought that was it and we would head home in a couple of minutes. However, Costa Rica’s Froylan Ledezma hit the equalizer in injury time of the second half and sent the match to extra time tied at one goal apiece.

After 30 minutes of extra time, the game went to penalties to decide the winner. Each Mexican player made their penalty shot as did each Costa Rican until Ledezma’s penalty kick was saved by Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and sent Mexico to the final.

Extra time would not have been necessary if Mexico’s Miguel Sabah had not missed a penalty kick in the 58th minute.