Mexico play Panama in the Gold Cup 2015 semi finals on Wednesday night at the Georgia Dome. Panama will be looking to make a second consecutive final in the Gold Cup with a win today, but Mexico will feel it could be their year after defeating Costa Rica in the quarter finals. Today's big clash has a scheduled start time of 9 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the Fox Sports 2 network or online through live stream via the link below.
Both of today's Gold Cup 2015 semi finals come to us from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, and both should be excellent games with the reward of an appearance in this year's final at stake.
Both Mexico and Panama have reached the semi finals stage without really getting into top gear so far. Panama have actually drawn all four of their games at this year's Gold Cup by a score of 1-1 in normal time. That has included draws with Haiti, Honduras, USA and Trinidad & Tobago (who they defeated on penalties following a 1-1 draw).
Mexico though have not been very impressive themselves, and barring a 6-0 demolition of a Cuba team in chaos, and a 1-0 win over Costa Rica with a controversial penalty award just seconds away from a full blown penalty shootout, they have limply drawn 0-0 with Guatemala and 4-4 against Trinidad & Tobago.
Mexican team coach Miguel Herrera has also complained about his team's preparations for the semi final today, revealing that the Mexico and Panama squads were booked on the same flight to Atlanta as one another. The flight share came about after a delayed flight out of New Jersey forced the Mexican team onto the same flight that Panama were already booked upon.
Herrera took a dig at hosts, USA, who his team may end up playing in the final, for what he feels has been a disorganized Gold Cup competition.
He said, "What surprises me is that Mexico is the one that gets them [CONCACAF money], which makes the stadiums full. The whole process has treated us different from the other teams. We've paid a lot."
It is still uncertain whether striker Giovani Dos Santos will be back to play tonight. He is suffering from an Adductor injury. if he misses the game, he will join Yasser Corona (knee) and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez (clavicle) and Hector Moreno (foot) as players unavailable to Herrera.
Mexico will be favorites to win here today though. They have kept three clean sheets out of their four games so far, but did concede four against Trinidad & Tobago. They will likely be more concerned up front, where they have been nowhere near as efficient enough against the more organized teams; failing to score against Guatemala, and needing 120 minutes to score against Costa Rica, and even that was thanks to a controversial decision.
Panama though have only scored four and conceded four in their four games of this year's Gold Cup, each game ending 1-1 in normal time. They will no doubt again look to keep things tight, and will be hoping to break down Mexico's play. Their goal will be to keep a clean sheet and sneak a goal to claim the win. However, Mexico's firepower up front may be just too much for the two-time runner-ups at the Gold Cup.
Today's big game between Mexico and Panama kicks off at 9 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the Fox Sports 2 network or online through live stream by clicking here.
