Guadeloupe Wins Again, Mexico Held

The little island nation of Guadeloupe continued their impressive run in the Gold Cup with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua. Unlike their previous matches, they were favorites this time. It took Guadeloupe until the second half to score the opening goal, even though the breakthrough should have been much earlier. Guadeloupe scored a clear goal, which was incorrectly ruled offsides. In the 56th minute they would get the goal, as Stephane Auvary turned in a beautiful cross to make it 1-0. Just two minutes after that they would strike again, when some very sloppy defending allowed Ludovic Gotin to make it 2-0. Guadeloupe are going through to the knockout stage for the second straight tournament and don't put it past them to make the semifinals again. Before that they play Mexico, needing only a tie to take the group. Revenge will be squarely on their mind, as it was the Mexicans who eliminated them in 2007.

As for the Mexicans, they were held by Panama to a 1-1 draw. The game was a very violent match that saw three players and a coach sent off. Mexico scored first after just 10 minutes and looked to be on their way. Giovanni Dos Santos was in on a breakaway, when he made an incredibly unselfish play of cutting the ball back to his teammate Miguel Sabha. Sabha was at a better angle and the goalie had to scramble to get back in position. Sabha cooly tucked the ball away to make it 1-0. Mexico spurned a great chance after this, hitting the post from point blank range. The Panamanians scored on their first real threat of the game. Blas Perez was able to control a free kick in the box, then muscle past a defender, before knocking the ball into the net from close range. Then before halftime things got ugly. After a Panama foul, pushing and shoving broke out. In the melee Noriega of Mexico and Gun of Panama were sent off. In the second half Mexico had a slew of chances but could not score. In the 79th minute, more fighting broke out. As Ricardo Phillips of Panama, chased a ball down the sideline, Javier Aguirre stuck out his leg and tried to trip Phillips. It was a very dirty move and Phillips reacted by shoving Aguirre. Players from both benches came together and started pushing each other. Phillips and Aguirre were both sent off. Then things got really bad. As Phillips was leaving the field objects were flung out of the stands at him. The game had to be temporarily halted, and Mexican players pleaded with their fans to stop. After the game resumed, Panama were able to hold on for the tie. Now, they face a must win game against Nicaragua on Sunday, while Mexico are all but in the next round.