Mexican team rescues a draw against Costa Rica in friendly match
The Mexican team rescued a draw (2-2) against Costa Rica on Saturday, in a match that served as preparation for the Gold Cup they will play in July.
Villarreal player Giovani Dos Santos and Real Madrid's Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez secured the draw for Mexico after David Ramirez and Miguel Layun gave the lead to the 'Ticos'.
In the 4th minute of the game played at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Ramirez scored Costa Rica's first goal with a shot that slipped through the legs of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in a counter-attack where Celso Borges stole the ball in midfield.
The Central American team increased their advantage in the 36th minute when Layun deflected a cross from the left wing into his own net.
In the second half of the match, 'Piojo' Herrera made changes and in the 52nd minute, Dos Santos reduced the deficit with a cross-shot inside the box. Two minutes later, Hernandez scored the equalizer with a header from a cross sent by Carlos Esquivel.
Mexico's next match before the start of the Gold Cup will be on Wednesday when they face the Honduras national team. In the Gold Cup, which will be played from July 7th to 26th in the United States, Mexico will be in Group C with Cuba, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Canada will be in Group B, while the host team will form Group A with Panama, Haiti, and Honduras. The tournament champion will have to compete for a spot in the Confederations Cup against the United States, the winner of the 2013 Gold Cup.