New LA Galaxy signing Giovani dos Santos and Mexico ended the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage with a disappointing yet dramatic 4-4 draw with Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
After earning his first start of the tournament for Mexico, the Galaxy’s latest Designated Player exited the match at the start of the second half with a thigh injury following a heavy challenge late in the first half. Following the match, Mexico head coach Miguel Herrera confirmed the injury but declined to comment on the severity.
With their draw against the Caribbean side, Mexico will now play 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinalist Costa Rica in Gold Cup quarters on Sunday.
Mexico opened the match strong with Paul Aguilar opening the scoring. Just before the end of the first 45, LA’s newest signing went down with a knock that forced him to exit at halftime. At the start of the second half, the pace of the match picked up dramatically.
Five minutes into the second half, Carlos Vela doubled the Mexicans’ lead but Trinidad soon battled back with a pair of goals from Keron Cummings and Kenwyne Jones in a three-minute period between the 54th and 57th minute. Cummings struck again in the 66th minute but the lead did not last.
In the final minutes of the match, a wonder goal by Mexico midfielder Andres Guardado in the 87th minute and an own goal by Jones seemed to put El Tricolor on course for a victory. However in the dying moments of stoppage time, former Galaxy player Yohance Marshall scored a screamer to give the Soca Warriors the point, and the top spot in Group C.
While Mexico takes on Costa Rica, the other quarterfinal matches include the United States (including Omar Gonzalez, Alan Gordon and Gyasi Zardes) vs. Cuba, Haiti vs. Jamaica, and Jaime Penedo’s Panama against Trinidad and Tobago.
