Mexico celebrate reaching the semi-final of the Gold Cup with a goal in the last minute against Panama ©Getty Images

Mexico and Panama will meet in the semi-finals of the Gold Cup after they won their respective quarter-finals against Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago in East Rutherford tonight. 

Both matches were tight affairs, with Mexico's victory proving to be a controversial one.

Andres Guardado scored a penalty in the final minute of stoppage time in extra-time to give Mexico a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica at the MetLife Stadium.

The penalty had been awarded after Costa Rica's Roy Miller was adjudged to have fouled Mexico's Oribe Peralta when the match appeared to be heading for a shoot-out. 

Television replays, however, showed minimal contact between the pair when Peralta was attempting a header.

Mexico's Andres Guardado scores the winning goal from the penalty-spot against Costa Rica in their Gold Cup quarter-final at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford
Mexico's Andres Guardado scores the winning goal from the penalty-spot against Costa Rica in their Gold Cup quarter-final at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford ©Getty Images

Angry Costa Rica fans - heavily outnumbered by Mexico fans in the crowd of 74,187  - threw bottles towards the field in protest.

Costa Rica's coach Paulo Wanchope, though, sportingly refused to condemn Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez for the decision. 

"That's football." the former Manchester City and West Ham United player said. 

"We shouldn't take away from Mexico.

"They played a good game.

"They had their chances."

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera admitted he was frustrated at the number of chances his side had squandered earlier in the match. 

"That has been our main concern since the beginning of the tournament, to be effective up front," he said.

"Unfortunately, we haven't been able to be as effective as we would want to."

In the earlier match at the MetLife Stadium, Panama squeezed past Trinidad and Tobago following a penalty shoot-out.

The game ended 1-1, with Panama winning a dramatic shoot-out 6-5.

The hero for Panama was Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who saved Lester Peltier's penalty.

Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo is hoisted high by team-mate Gabriel Torres after his save in the penalty shoot-out against Trinidad and Tobago ensured they won their Gold Cup quarter-final match in East Rutherford
Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo is hoisted high by team-mate Gabriel Torres after his save in the penalty shoot-out against Trinidad and Tobago ensured they won their Gold Cup quarter-final match in East Rutherford ©Getty Images

In normal time Luis Tejada had scored in the 37th minute for Panama before Kenwyne Jones leveled it in the 54th for the Caribbean side.

It was the fourth consecutive match that Panama, the 2013 Gold Cup runners-up, had taken the lead only to concede an equaliser in the second-half and the match finish 1-1 in this tournament organised by Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.

Hosts United States will play Jamaica in the first semi-final to take place on Wednesday (July 23) at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, a match due to kick-off at 6pm local time.

That will be followed, at 9pm, with Panama's match against Mexico. 

The final is due to take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday (July 26).



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