Mexico sealed their Group A victory in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday with a 4-1 triumph over Costa Rica. Andres Guardado scored twice, and Rafael Marquez and Pablo Barrera added a goal apiece for Mexico, the defending champions who won all three of their Group A matches despite a squad reduced to 17 players after five were withdrawn by Mexican football authorities after positive drug tests last month.
The Mexican football federation is blaming the positive tests for clenbuterol on contaminated meat and has asked to replace the players, but CONCACAF officials have asked for more information before making a decision. Costa Rica finished second in Group A ahead of El Salvador, who trounced Cuba 6-1 earlier on Sunday. Both Costa Rica and El Salvador finished with four points, but the Costa Ricans hold the advantage on goal difference and sealed their quarter-final spot. So far Mexico haven’t shown any sign that the absence of five players is hurting them.
