The Ticos' goal eventually came from a penalty that would've been reversed were there VAR in this tournament. Always in the calculus, you think you'll play Costa Rica later, not now.' 'We knew it was going to be a very intense game. We're playing against an opponent that also is a candidate to be in the final, that has grown a lot and that has good players,' Ochoa said. Costa Rica wasn't going to turn down those types of opportunities, but it was going for goals from the run of play as well. Often in Concacaf, teams are happy enough to sit back and hope to hit Mexico on a counter or a set piece.

'He stopped it and without it we wouldn't have gone to penalties.'īut it did go to penalties, and Ochoa was there again. It was a rare game for Mexico in that the opponent wanted to attack as well. 'Memo made the save of the game,' Mexico manager Tata Martino said after the match in his post-match news conference. Jonathan McDonald ripped a shot toward the goal, but Ochoa extended to his left and used both hands to push the chance aside. With the scoreline at 1-1 in the 108th minute, Costa Rica broke through Mexico's back line. Really, El Tri needed him before the critical save in the shootout. Así la ronda de los penales (5-4): LO TAPÓ SAN MEMOOOOOOOOO, MÉXICOO SIGUE CON VIDAAAAA

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