Colombia Eliminates Mexico

Colombia reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals with a surprising 2-1 win over defending champion Mexico, thanks to Abel Aguilar’s 74th-minute fluke goal Sunday at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Aguilar’s goal came 10 minutes after a resilient, yet often disorganized, Mexican team had tied the score in a back-and-forth match.

However, it was the way Aguilar scored that caused Mexico blushes.

Catching Moises Munoz well off his line, Aguilar sent a 40-yard chip from the right wing over the backpedaling goalkeeper, who could only flail his arms at the ball as it soared over him into the net.

Colombia will play Panama in a semifinal Thursday at East Rutherford, N.J.

After controlling long stretches in the first half where they had two goals disallowed on offside calls, the Colombians were rewarded in the 58th minute when Jaime Castrillon scored on a header.

A flat Mexican defense gave Jairo Patino time to float in a cross from the right to Castrillon, who eluded Francisco Rodriguez to head it from 10 yards.

Mexico surged back and six minutes later scored the tying goal when Gonzalo Pineda got a deflection off defender Jose De La Cuesta and fired a low shot at the left post from the edge of the penalty area.

The Colombians remained composed and continued to attack as the game remained wide open, but it was Mexico that failed to take control of the match and noticeably missed inspirational striker Jared Borgetti, who was suspended.

Mexico nearly had the tying goal with five minutes left, but Omar Bravo’s effort from 25 yards was saved by goalkeeper Farid Mondragon, who dived to his right to knock it away.

The game was not overly physical, but referee Rodolfo Sibrian of El Salvador showed eight yellow cards, including a second to Mexico midfielder Alberto Medina during injury time.

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Panama was perfect when it counted as the Central American country advanced to the semifinals, defeating South Africa, 5-3, on penalty kicks after the teams had tied 1-1 after 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime at Houston.

Gabriel Gomez clinched the victory with his penalty kick to complete a five-for-five showing for Panama. Goalkeeper Jaime Penedo helped the cause when he saved a kick by South Africa’s Ricardo Katza.

In regulation, Jorge Dely Valdes scored in the 48th minute for Panama and Lungisani Ndlela scored in the 68th minute for South Africa.