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Played
June 12, 2011 8:00 PM EDT
Soldier Field — Chicago, Illinois
Referee: R. Moreno
Attendance: 61500
June 12, 2011 8:00 PM EDT
Soldier Field — Chicago, Illinois
Referee: R. Moreno
Attendance: 61500
Shorthanded Mexico set to face Costa Rica in Group A showdown
Even with five players suspended, Mexico is still the favorite to win the Gold Cup and will look for its third win in the group stage when it plays Costa Rica at Soldier Field.
By Mike Slane
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, Mexico (Getty Images)
Mexico has to be pretty bored with the level of competition it has faced so far in the Gold Cup. But Costa Rica can change all that Sunday in Chicago.
Through two games, El Tri has scored 10 goals without allowing any against it. El Salvador and Cuba aren't exactly powerhouses, but they had no chance against the tournament favorite.
Other than a decent first half from El Salvador in its opener last weekend, Mexico hasn't missed a beat. Even after five of its players were suspended for doping, Mexico still looks unbeatable when compared to other CONCACAF teams, including the United States, which was embarrassed by Panama on Saturday.
The Mexicans may have been without two starters - goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and defender Francisco Javier Rodríguez - against Cuba but it still had the best player in the tournament in its lineup. Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez has been a one-man show up front, scoring a tournament-high five goals in two games.
There is currently an investigation taking place on the doping incident, which the Mexican federation is claiming to be an accident. The substance found in the players called clenbuterol can increases stamina, but Mexican team officials say the players ate contaminated meat.
It doesn't appear that any of the suspended players will be cleared to play prior to the sold-out game against the second-most talented team in Group A.
Costa Rica is coming off a disappointing 1-1 draw against El Salvador on Friday. The Central American nation needed a goal in extra time to earn the point.
A Costa Rica win would have made Sunday's matchup more intriguing with both teams being 2-0-0. Instead, Mexico will win Group A with a tie.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Mexico 3-1 Costa Rica
- 17.02 %
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Mexico 3-0 Costa Rica
- 14.29 %
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Mexico 2-1 Costa Rica
- 13.87 %
| Gold Cup (GC) | Jun 12, 2011 | Mexico 4 - Costa Rica 1 |
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| WCQ 2014 (Concacaf) (WCQN) | Sep 5, 2009 | Costa Rica 0 - Mexico 3 |
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| Gold Cup (GC) | Jul 23, 2009 | Costa Rica 4 - Mexico 6 |
|
| WCQ 2014 (Concacaf) (WCQN) | Mar 28, 2009 | Mexico 2 - Costa Rica 0 |
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Mexico
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| Jun 3, 2012 | Brazil 0 - Mexico 2 | FR |
| May 31, 2012 | Mexico 2 - Bosnia 1 | FR |
| May 27, 2012 | Wales 0 - Mexico 2 | FR |
| Feb 29, 2012 | Mexico 0 - Colombia 2 | FR |
| Jan 25, 2012 | Mexico 3 - Venezuela 1 | FR |
Costa Rica
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| Jun 1, 2012 | Guatemala 1 - Costa Rica 0 | FR |
| May 25, 2012 | Costa Rica 3 - Guatemala 2 | FR |
| Apr 11, 2012 | Costa Rica 1 - Honduras 1 | FR |
| Feb 29, 2012 | Wales 0 - Costa Rica 1 | FR |
| Nov 15, 2011 | Costa Rica 2 - Spain 2 | FR |
| 12 | Alfredo Talavera | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Carlos Amoldo Salcido | Defender |
| 4 | Rafa Márquez | Defender |
| 15 | Héctor Alfredo Moreno | Defender |
| - | Gerardo Torrado | |
| 7 | Pablo Edson Barrera | Striker |
| - | Israel Castro | |
| 16 | Efraín Juárez | Defender |
| 18 | Jose Andrés Guardado | Midfielder |
| 10 | Giovani dos Santos | Striker |
| 14 | Chicharito | Striker |
| - | Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco | |
| 20 | Jorge Emmanuel Torres | Defender |
| 22 | Á. Reyna | Midfielder |
| 13 | J. Zavala | Midfielder |
| - | E. Hernández | |
| 9 | A. De Nigris | Striker |
Results
Times In EDT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chicharito
Striker Mexico |
7 | 1 |
|
Rodolfo Zelaya
Striker El Salvador |
4 | 1 |
|
A. De Nigris
Striker Mexico |
4 | 0 |
|
Clint Dempsey
Midfielder USA |
3 | 0 |
|
Giovani dos Santos
Striker Mexico |
3 | 0 |