Mexico Can Benefit More Than Itself

The pro-Mexico rooting section for tonight’s Mexico-Guatemala Gold Cup match at the Coliseum will be larger than usual, carrying a couple of dozen newcomers by way of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Hopefully, Mexico will do us a favor Thursday night,” Trinidad striker Dwight Yorke said, “so we can go through to the second round.”

Yorke figures it’s the least Mexico can do, considering how Mexico abused the Trinidadians in a 4-0 Group C rout last weekend. Trinidad regrouped to defeat Guatemala, 4-2, Tuesday night and will advance to the quarterfinals with a Mexico victory over Guatemala at 7 tonight.

In the second game of the Coliseum doubleheader, Costa Rica (0-0-1) and South Korea (0-0-1) will play at 9 p.m. to determine which of those Group D teams will accompany Canada to the next round. The only way Canada (0-0-2) would be left out is in the unlikely event that Costa Rica and South Korea tie, 3-3, allowing both to continue because of goal differential.

Mexico is favored to win its fourth consecutive Gold Cup championship and has not lost a Gold Cup match since 1993, but the Mexico-Guatemala rivalry is intense. Recent matches have been decided by no more than one goal; in the 1996 Gold Cup semifinals, Mexico defeated Guatemala, 1-0.

With a quarterfinal match in San Diego set for Sunday, Mexico Coach Manuel Lapuente is expected tonight to rest several regulars--striker Luis Hernandez, who has been bothered by a hamstring injury, and veterans Ramon Ramirez and Claudio Suarez.

Still, the task confronting Guatemala is daunting. Because of its two-goal loss to Trinidad, Guatemala needs to defeat Mexico by at least three goals to advance to the next round. Anything less and Trinidad will go through with Mexico.

Gold Cup organizers say they expect a crowd of between 30,000 and 40,000 for tonight’s doubleheader.