(Full match)
93rd minute: Joevin Jones under intense pressure as debris hurled from all sides accumulates around him, takes a corner. The Mexicans are leading and seconds away from claiming top spot in Group C. He sends in a beautifully curling ball that evades the Mexicans but finds Yohance Marshall elevating, neck straining, head turning at the perfect moment to flick the ball past Memo Ochoa. It’s over. The Soca Warriors equalize and win the Group C. This will go down as a Gold Cup classic.
Kenwyne Jones showed what the USA is missing. He does what Jozy Altidore cannot do, a perfect hold up man creating chances for his team mates with his big powerful frame. And yes, a quick eye and quick feet. He scored a goal, almost got another, created two others, and he also helped El Tri, his sloppy giveaway led to Paul Aguilar’s opening goal and his own goal from Hector Herrera’s blast from the edge of the box almost led to the Mexicans capturing the top spot with a victory.
The first half was all Mexico dominating possession with T&T content to sit back. There was a feeling of deja vu as the match wore on; despite all the ball hogging there was little to show for. That was to change in the 32nd minute as Yasser Corona’s cross flicked on by Carlos Vela was turned into goal by Paul Aguilar sneaking up far post.
El Tri had two six minutes after resumption when Carlos Vela latched onto a lovely through ball by Andres Guardado after Jones misplaced his pass straight to the Mexican captain, controlled it nicely with a nice cut back to stroke the ball off the post into goal. Each goal celebrated with delirious relief.
The storm was yet to come. T&T had not thrown in the towel. In a stunning turnaround, Kenwyne Jones held off two Mexican defenders using his strength and toed a ball to an arriving Keron Cummings to slam the ball into goal. At the other end, Vela had a golden chance to make it a commanding 3-1 lead minutes later after a defensive mix up but with just Marvin Phillip to beat, sliced his shot just wide.
T&T organized and minutes later as Mexico gave up the ball in their own half, Keron Cummings fed Cordell Cato down the left and the midfielder dialed in a cross, as Jones sneaking around an unsuspecting Diego Reyes stuck a leg out to sweep the ball past Ochoa. Mexico was reeling, Miguel Herrera left gesticulating impotently. But it was not over as the big unit, Jones once again using his size stuck his chest out at a free throw and as the ball rolled Cummings quick as a flash smashed the ball ferociously tennis style into the far post leaving Ochoa frozen. The Soca Warriors had taken the lead despite ceding 70% of the possession.
Mexico had no Gio Dos Santos as newly recruited LA Galaxy man had departed at half time with a thigh injury. Oribe Peralta had come on but was not doing much. El Tri again had much off the ball but were making few inroads as the defense stiffened up. It looked like the match would drift into a win for T&T but from a poor clearance, the ball fell at Guardado’s feet and the wiry winger whipped it past Phillip in the 88th minute. There was a glimmer but Mexico still needed another goal to win the group. That came when Jones stuck his leg out to a fiercely hit cross from Herrera and the no 9 could only look on in horror as the ball went into his own goal.
Mexico believed they had the win. With seconds left the Soca Warriors pulled off a miracle. This was a classic for the ages. Mexico now face Costa Rica and T&T play Panama in the quarterfinals.