Raul Jimenez’s goal late in the second half proved to the difference as Mexico defeated Trinidad & Tobago, 1-0 in a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal in front of 54,229 at the Georgia Dome Saturday evening. It was a record crowd for soccer at the stadium.

Mexico, the two-time defending champion, advances to play Panama on Wednesday in the semifinals at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It will be rematch of their opening day encounter that the Panamanians won, 2-1.

El Tri had won both of its previous Gold Cup encounters with the Soca Warriors by four goals apiece, but found it more difficult on this occasion to get the ball goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams.

It took until six minutes from full time before Jimenez was able to break through, getting enough of Miguel Layun’s low cross to put it into the side netting from eight meters.

The duo nearly connected for an insurance goal minutes later, but Jimenez was unable to latch on to the cross.

Playing in its first Gold Cup quarterfinal since 2000, Trinidad had the first dangerous chance, when Kenwyne Jones latched onto a long ball and delivered a blast that deflected out for a corner kick in the eighth minute.

One minute later, Jonathan Orozco was forced to make a one-handed diving save on Andre Boucaud’s rocket from the top of the 18-yard box. On the ensuing corner, Seon Power’s flicked header went just wide.

After having an early goal called back because of offside, El Tri had finally broken through in the 23rd minute.  Carlos Pena’s effort from 20 meters, though, hit off the outside netting.

Mexico continued to push forward and was the more dangerous team in the attacking third. Three minutes later, Jimenez bounced his diving header wide of the net from 12 meters.

Four minutes before the break, Luis Montes struck his free kick into Williams from 24 meters.

Jimenez put a shot on target in the 55th minute, but he put his low attempt from 16 meters off the left post.

The Soca Warriors countered in the 78th minute. Jones latched onto Keon Daniel’s driven cross, only to see his header from 12 meters fly just wide of its mark.

With less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation time, Power’s dangerous first-time volley from distance deflected inside the box before it could get to Orozco.

Notes: CONCACAF officials announced a crowd of 54,229, a soccer record at the 21-year-old Georgia Dome. ... Mexico improved to 12-3-3 against Trinidad and Tobago, including a pair of wins in the Gold Cup. This was the first meeting between the teams in a knockout round.

Teams

Trinidad & Tobago: - 21.Jan-Michael Williams; 6.Daneil Cyrus, 32.Radanfah Abu Bakr, 20.Seon Power, 25.Aubrey David; 12.Darryl Roberts, 19.Keon Daniel, 14.Andre Boucaud (7.Christopher Birchall 88th), 11.Carlos Edwards (16.Kevon Carter 89th); 9.Kenwyne Jones (capt), 13.Cornell Glen.

Unused Substitutes: - 1.Marvin Phillip, 18.Densill Theobald, 22.Cleon John, 23.Jamal Gay, 26.Curtis Gonzales, 27.Kevan George.

Injured Out/Suspension: - Carlyle Mitchell (ligament), Joevin Jones (hamstring), Justin Hoyte (ligament), Kevin Molino (suspended).

Coach: - Stephen Hart.

Mexico: - 1.Jonathan Orozco; 19.Miguel Layun, 3.Joel Huiqui (capt), 18.Juan Valenzuela, 13.Adrian Aldrete; 22.Alejandro Costa, 6.Carlos Pena (24.Jose Cardenas 68th), 8.Luis Montes (15.Efrain Velarde 89th); 11.Rafael Luga Marquez (21.Javier Orozco 74th), 9.Raul Jimenez, 10.Marco Fabian.

Unused Substitutes: - 23.Moisés Muñoz Rodríguez, 3.Leobardo López, 20.Jair Pereira, 2.Israel Jiménez, 14.Jorge Enríque, 16.Miguel Ponce, 7.Javier Cortés, 17.Isaac Brizuela.

Coach: - Jose Manuel De La Torre.

Venue: - Georgia Dome, Atlanta, USA.

Attendance: - 54,229.

Video: - Mexico vs Trinidad & Tobago Highlights

Statistics

Mexico  -   Trinidad & Tobago

23  Shots  7
1  Assists  0
5  Corner kicks  6
2  Offsides  0
17  Fouls  12
17  Clearances  14
63  Recoveries  71

Mexico, Panama reach Gold Cup semis.
By Associated Press.

Mexico coach Jose Manuel De La Torre knows there's only so much he can do to please his critics.

A narrow win over Trinidad and Tobago might rekindle concerns about his job security, but De La Torre was not interested in discussing his future or his team's perceived struggles.

When a reporter asked De La Torre if he thought this was a weak victory, the coach was quick to respond.

"You don't like it? We saw a different game," De La Torre said. "That's what I can tell you. Every time we win, we have to enjoy it. A win is a win, but that is enough. We always have to fix things but we also did a lot of great things tonight."

Raul Jimenez scored in the 84th minute to lead Mexico to a 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup on Saturday night.

Mexico, a six-time Gold Cup champion going for its third straight title, will face Panama in the semifinals on Wednesday in Dallas.

Jimenez used his right foot to redirect Miguel Layun's shot attempt from the right side with a sweeping move that helped the ball sail just past diving goalkeeper Jan Williams and into the left corner of the net.

Three of Mexico's 11 shots in the first half were on goal, but Williams only had to dive once to make a save. The other two attempts went right into his hands.

In the 62nd minute, Layun attempted a shot from the right top corner of the box. His arc looked to be on line before Williams stretched out to deflect the ball high.

Barely 1 minute later, Williams tipped away a shot by Jimenez, but he couldn't prevent him from scoring the winning goal with about 5 minutes remaining.

Williams faced 23 shots. Mexico keeper Jonathan Orozco faced seven.

Trinidad and Tobago ended Gold Cup play with a 1-2-1 record.

"It feels worse when you give up a goal so late in the game," Trinidad and Tobago coach Stephen Hart said, "but congratulations to Mexico."

Hart was not discouraged, though, adding that his team at least gave itself a chance to win.

"We need to possess the ball better and keep it out of the feet of the opposition," he said. "That needs to improve and our ability to attack with a little more variety. Our fullbacks did not get involved today at all, which is a big part of our game. There's some work to be done."

A 2-1 loss to Panama in a group match earlier this month dropped Mexico to 2-3-8 in international play this year, but the team has since won three straight.

Against Panama in four days, Mexico might play its second straight game without midfielder Jorge Enriquez, who sat out Saturday with a leg injury.

Panama this time will have Blas Perez, a leading scorer who did not play against Mexico because of a Major League Soccer commitment to FC Dallas.

"It's a different game, a very different game," De La Torre said. "We start over. We have had three more games that the team has improved upon since then. Little by little, we showed it tonight in the results and in seeing the confidence that each of the players has been able to achieve."

De La Torre believed his team showed composure to persistently pressure Williams in hopes he would make a mistake.

It's the same approach he wants Mexico to take against Panama.

"The team did not become desperate," De La Torre said. "They were under our strategy and our plan in order to win. It was very good on our end that we (took care of) the sides, the middle and the center."

T&T bow out Gold Cup after 1-0 loss to Mexico.
By Mark Bassant

BRAVE WARRIORS DOWNED

Mexico eked out an intense 1-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta last night to advance to the semi-final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Warriors conceded a somewhat soft goal in the 83rd minute after Miguel Layun crossed in on the ground from the right side, Raul Jimenez got a right foot to the ball and angled it into the far corner with goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams having to watch on helplessly. The Warriors have nothing to be ashamed of as they matched the Mexicans stride for stride in a keen 2nd half.

Williams kept the T&T team in the game. In the 54th, Jimenez struck the post before Williams had to make two critical saves from a stinging shot by Marco Fabian in the 64th and three minutes later from Jimenez.

In the 75th minute, midfielder Keon Daniel had a chance to give the Warriors the lead but his shot deflected off a Mexican player and went safely into Johnathan Orozco’s hands. Three minutes later, Daniel floated in a pinpoint cross from the left side for his captain Kenwyne Jones who flashed his header inches overbar. It was a miss that would haunt T&T minutes later.

In the first half the Warriors started off nervously, with Mexico finding the net, only to have the goal ruled offside in the only the second minute.

However, the Warriors settled down and almost quieted the 50,000-plus fans when Andre Boucard’s powerful shot destined for goal from the top of the box was spectacularly parried around the post by Mexican goalie Johnathan Orozco.

The T&T defence marshalled by Radanfah Abu Bakr continued to stifle the Mexican frontline especially the dangerous Marco Fabian, cutting off those dangerous cross balls down the wings.

In the 23rd the Mexicans fans were fooled into thinking their team had taken the lead after a rasping volley by Raul Jimenez appeared to beat Williams and nestle into the net. Fortunately for the Warriors, the ball brushed the side netting before ending up behind the goal.

Eventually however, Jiminez got the real thing to end the Warriors’ promising campaign. In the first quarter-final of yesterday’s doubleheader,  Caribbean Cup champions Cuba were eliminated after  a 6-1 loss to Panama.

Cuba opened the scoring in the 21st minute from Jose Ciprian but then conceded a goal through the penalty spot as Gabriel Torres was spot on in the 25th minute for Panama.

Panama added a second goal through Torres before the interval.

The Cubans lost their discipline and emotions in the defence after Ariel Martinez was red carded for a high tackle in the 58th minute.

Panama capitalised on the situation and Carlos Rodriguez (68th), Blas Perez (78th, 87th) and substitute Jairo Jimenez (84th) completing the rout of the Cubans. Panama will now play Mexico in the semi-finals. 

Line-up Commentary from CONCACAF,COM

END OF THE GAME

2H 92'      Goal kick by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
2H 91'      Raúl Jiménez commits a foul on Christopher Birchall
2H 91'      Throw-in for Mexico, done by Adrián Aldrete
2H 90'      Throw-in by Daneil Cyrus
2H 90'      Foul by José María Cárdenas on Daneil Cyrus! The referee gives a free kick
2H 89'      Throw-in for Mexico, taken by Miguel Arturo Layún Prado
2H 89'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, done by Daneil Cyrus
2H 88'      Kevon Carter now enters the field for Trinidad and Tobago, Carlos Edwards comes off
2H 88'      Substitution by Mexico, Efraín Velarde comes on for Luis Arturo Montes
2H 87'      A change by Trinidad and Tobago, Christopher Birchall comes on for Andre Boucaud
2H 87'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco makes a clearance
2H 87'      Shot by Andre Boucaud , but the ball ends up in the hands of Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
2H 86'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
2H 86'      A shot by Raúl Jiménez went wide
2H 86'      Clearance by Mexico, executed by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
2H 85'      GOOAAL for Mexico! Raúl Jiménez converts an open play goal
2H 83'      Miguel Arturo Layún Prado throws in
2H 81'      Foul by Seon Power on José María Cárdenas! The referee gives a free kick
2H 80'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, done by Daneil Cyrus
2H 80'      Throw-in by Daneil Cyrus
2H 79'      An illicit act by Cornell Glen against Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora! The referee awards a free kick
2H 78'      Throw-in for Mexico, taken by Miguel Arturo Layún Prado
2H 78'      Clearance by Trinidad and Tobago, executed by Jan Michael Williams
2H 77'      Goal kick by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
2H 77'      A shot by Kenwyne Jones went wide
2H 77'      Corner kick for Trinidad and Tobago, taken byCarlos Edwards
2H 76'      Alejandro Castro Flores clears the ball to the corner.
2H 75'      Luis Arturo Montes commits a foul on Aubrey David
2H 74'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
2H 74'      A switch by Mexico, Javier Antonio Orozco enters the field for Rafael Márquez Lugo
2H 74'      Chance for Mexico. Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora shoots, but it goes wide!
2H 73'      Clearance by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
2H 72'      Miguel Arturo Layún Prado throws in
2H 72'      An illicit act by Rafael Márquez Lugo against Cornell Glen! The referee awards a free kick
2H 71'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
2H 71'      A shot by Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora went wide
2H 71'      An illicit act by Joel Adrián Huiqui Andrade against Cornell Glen! The referee gives a free kick
2H 70'      Throw-in for Mexico, taken by Adrián Aldrete
2H 69'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, done by Aubrey David
2H 68'      Throw-in by Daneil Cyrus
2H 68'      Mexico makes a substitution, José María Cárdenas comes on, Carlos Peña comes off
2H 68'      Clearance by Trinidad and Tobago, made by Jan Michael Williams
2H 67'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco makes a clearance
2H 67'      Corner kick for Trinidad and Tobago, taken byCarlos Edwards
2H 67'      Cleared and corner given away by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
2H 66'      Clearance by Trinidad and Tobago, the ball was kicked out of bounds by Jan Michael Williams
2H 66'      Opportunity for Mexico. Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora shoots, stopped by Jan Michael Williams
2H 65'      Throw-in by Miguel Arturo Layún Prado
2H 64'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco clears the ball
2H 64'      Clearance by Trinidad and Tobago, made by Jan Michael Williams
2H 63'      An illict act by Alejandro Castro Flores against Cornell Glen! The ref gives a free kick
2H 63'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
2H 62'      Chance for Mexico. Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora shoots, but it goes wide!
2H 62'      Opportunity for Mexico. Miguel Arturo Layún Prado shoots, but it goes wide!
2H 61'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
2H 61'      Miguel Arturo Layún Prado trys to shoot on goal, but the attempt goes wide!
2H 60'      Keon Kelly Daniel is penalized with a yellow card
2H 60'      Yellow card for Luis Arturo Montes
2H 60'      An illicit act by Keon Kelly Daniel against Luis Arturo Montes! The ref awards a free kick
2H 59'      An illicit act by Daneil Cyrus against Luis Arturo Montes! The referee awards a free kick
2H 58'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco makes a clearance for Mexico
2H 58'      The game is paused, the referee shows a yellow card to: Bark Abu
2H 58'      An illicit act by Bark Abu against Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco! The referee gives a free kick
2H 57'      Carlos Edwards kicks the corner
2H 57'      Cleared to the corner for Mexico, executed by Joel Adrián Huiqui Andrade
2H 56'      Foul committed by Carlos Peña on Cornell Glen
2H 56'      Jan Michael Williams makes a clearance
2H 54'      Throw-in by Miguel Arturo Layún Prado
2H 54'      Opportunity for Mexico. Raúl Jiménez shoots but the ball hits the post!
2H 53'      Corner kick for Mexico, executed by Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora
2H 53'      Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora shoots! But the attempt misses the target!
2H 51'      An illicit act by Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora against Kenwyne Jones! The ref awards a free kick
2H 51'      Goal kick by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
2H 50'      Opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago. Kenwyne Jones shoots, but the ball misses the target!
2H 50'      Throw-in for Mexico, done by Adrián Aldrete
2H 50'      Jan Michael Williams clears the ball by kicking it out of bounds
2H 49'      An illict act by Raúl Jiménez against Daneil Cyrus! The ref gives a free kick
2H 49'      Clearance by Mexico, the ball was kicked out of bounds by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
2H 49'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
2H 49'      A shot by Carlos Peña went wide
2H 48'      Seon Power committed a foul against Luis Arturo Montes
2H 47'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, taken by Daneil Cyrus
2H 47'      Jan Michael Williams makes a clearance
2H 46'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
2H 46'      Opportunity for Mexico. Luis Arturo Montes shoots, but the ball misses the target!

START OF SECOND HALF

END OF FIRST HALF

1H 46'      Raúl Jiménez is found in an offside position
1H 45'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco clears the ball
1H 45'      Darryl Roberts shoots on goal, but the goalkeeper prevents it from going in
1H 44'      Jan Michael Williams makes a clearance
1H 44'      Shot by Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora , but the ball ends up in the hands of Jan Michael Williams
1H 43'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco makes a clearance for Mexico
1H 43'      Bark Abu shoots! But the attempt is saved by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco!
1H 43'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, done by Daneil Cyrus
1H 42'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
1H 42'      Chance for Mexico. Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora shoots, but it goes wide!
1H 42'      An illicit act by Aubrey David against Joel Adrián Huiqui Andrade! The ref awards a free kick
1H 41'      An illicit act by Daneil Cyrus against Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora! The referee awards a free kick
1H 41'      Jan Michael Williams clears the ball by kicking it out of bounds
1H 40'      Shot on goal by Rafael Márquez Lugo, Jan Michael Williams controls the ball
1H 40'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
1H 40'      A shot by Luis Arturo Montes, but the attempt goes wide
1H 38'      Seon Power fouls Luis Arturo Montes
1H 37'      Foul committed by Bark Abu on Alejandro Castro Flores
1H 37'      Corner kick for Trinidad and Tobago, executed by Cornell Glen
1H 37'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, done by Aubrey David
1H 36'      Throw-in by Aubrey David
1H 36'      Foul by Daneil Cyrus on Adrián Aldrete! The referee gives a free kick
1H 34'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, taken by Daneil Cyrus
1H 31'      Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora executes the corner kick for Mexico
1H 31'      A shot by Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora went in the wrong direction
1H 30'      Jan Michael Williams clears the ball
1H 30'      Corner for Mexico, executed by Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora
1H 29'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco makes a clearance
1H 28'      An illict act by Juan Carlos Valenzuela against Cornell Glen! The ref gives a free kick
1H 28'      Miguel Arturo Layún Prado throws in
1H 27'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, taken by Daneil Cyrus
1H 26'      Throw-in for Mexico, done by Miguel Arturo Layún Prado
1H 25'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
1H 25'      Raúl Jiménez lost control over his shot and it goes wide
1H 24'      Goal kick by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
1H 24'      A shot by Kenwyne Jones went in the wrong direction
1H 24'      An illicit act by Alejandro Castro Flores against Cornell Glen! The ref awards a free kick
1H 22'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
1H 22'      Carlos Peña shoots! But the attempt misses the target!
1H 21'      Foul by Alejandro Castro Flores on Cornell Glen! The referee awards a free kick
1H 21'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
1H 21'      Opportunity for Mexico. Luis Arturo Montes shoots, but the ball misses the target!
1H 20'      Clearance by Mexico, made by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
1H 19'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, done by Aubrey David
1H 19'      Throw-in by Aubrey David
1H 18'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco makes a clearance for Mexico
1H 18'      Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora illegally stopped Bark Abu
1H 17'      Foul by Adrián Aldrete on Daneil Cyrus! The referee gives a free kick
1H 16'      Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora kicks the corner
1H 16'      An illicit act by Andre Boucaud against Alejandro Castro Flores! The ref awards a free kick
1H 15'      An illicit act by Joel Adrián Huiqui Andrade against Kenwyne Jones! The referee awards a free kick
1H 15'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, done by Daneil Cyrus
1H 14'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco clears the ball by kicking it out of bounds
1H 14'      Corner for Trinidad and Tobago, executed by Keon Kelly Daniel
1H 12'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, taken by Daneil Cyrus
1H 12'      Clearance by Trinidad and Tobago, executed by Jan Michael Williams
1H 11'      Foul committed by Rafael Márquez Lugo on Bark Abu
1H 11'      Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora kicks the corner
1H 10'      Clearance by Jan Michael Williams, resulting in a corner for the opponent
1H 9'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, done by Daneil Cyrus
1H 9'      Goal kick by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
1H 9'      Seon Power attempts to shoot on goal! But the attempt goes wide!
1H 9'      Corner for Trinidad and Tobago, executed by Andre Boucaud
1H 9'      Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco makes a clearance and concedes a corner for Mexico
1H 8'      Throw-in by Daneil Cyrus
1H 8'      Aubrey David throws in
1H 7'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, taken by Aubrey David
1H 7'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
1H 6'      A shot by Carlos Peña went in the wrong direction
1H 6'      Aubrey David throws in
1H 5'      Throw-in for Trinidad and Tobago, taken by Daneil Cyrus
1H 5'      Clearance by Trinidad and Tobago, executed by Jan Michael Williams
1H 5'      Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora shoots on goal, but the goalkeeper prevents it from going in
1H 4'      Daneil Cyrus throws in
1H 3'      Throw-in for Mexico, taken by Marco Jhonfai Fabián de la Mora
1H 2'      Jan Michael Williams makes a clearance
1H 2'      Joel Adrián Huiqui Andrade is found in an offside position
1H 1'      Foul by Luis Arturo Montes on Carlos Edwards! The referee gives a free kick
1H 1'      Goal kick by Jonathan Emmanuel Orozco
1H 0'      Goal kick by Jan Michael Williams
1H 0'      A shot by Rafael Márquez Lugo went wide
1H 0'      Aubrey David throws in

START OF THE GAME