Mexico vs. Trinidad and Tobago: Gold Cup 2015, Schedule, Predictions, Rosters, Stream & Preview
Group stage play of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup is coming to a close.
It has been a wild ride for soccer fans in this Gold Cup, and now Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago will face off on Wednesday night in a Group C contest. This game is extremely critical because the winner will automatically win the group.
Let's preview the game and pick a winner.
Mexico (40)
Mexico has been inconsistent, but they're still very much alive in this Gold Cup. Without Javier Hernandez and a disappointing Copa America, Mexico fell 17 spots in the new FIFA rankings to No. 40 overall. Still, only the United States ranks higher in the CONCACAF confederation.
Mexico opened this Gold Cup with a dominating 6-0 win over Cuba. Oribe Peralta had a hat trick in that game, and team captain Andrés Guardado pretty much sealed the deal with a nice header right before halftime. In Mexico's second game they drew a 0-0 tie against Guatemala. Guillermo Ochoa, who has not allowed a single goal thus far, will be starting net once again for Mexico.
Without "Chicharito" on the field, Giovani dos Santos of Villarreal is expected to lead the offense alongside Carlos Vela. Perhaps playing Cuba, who has had two players defect already, was a bad warm-up game for Mexico because they are the worst team in this tournament. Francisco Javier Rodríguez directs a great defense, but Mexico's middle field has to find a way to dominate the time of possession.
If Mexico wins this game, they will finish group stage play with two wins and one tie. That will give them the Group C win over Trinidad and Tobago with seven points. Trinidad and Tobago currently has six points.
Trinidad and Tobago (64)
The surprise team of this tournament has been Trinidad and Tobago. The No. 64 ranked team defeated Guatemala in their first game, 3-1. They followed that up with a 2-0 win over Cuba. Sheldon Bateau is the leading scorer for Trinidad and Tobago so far with two goals.
While Mexico has won this event a record six times, Trinidad and Tobago has never won a Gold Cup. Their best finish came in 2000 when they placed third. If Trinidad and Tobago wins this game, thus winning the group, that means they will play the third place team of either Group A or B.
Goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, who has allowed just one goal so far, will be starting in net for Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago has a young and energetic squad led by team captain Kenwyne Jones.
Although Trinidad and Tobago lies just miles away from the northern South American coast, their soccer team is still part of the CONCACAF confederation. Trinidad and Tobago qualified for this tournament by placing second at last year's Caribbean Cup. Jamaica defeated them in the final game by penalty kicks.
Schedule, Where to Watch
Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago will play each other on Wednesday, July 15 at 8:30 p.m. EDT at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game will be shown on Fox Sports 2. You can watch a live game stream here.
Prediction
What a game this should be. It's a winner take all group game. Both goalkeepers have been outstanding allowing just one combined goal thus far, so this should be a relatively low scoring game. Mexico needs to win this game and head into the knockout round with more confidence. Trinidad and Tobago has already clinched a spot, so they may not play at their best.
Mexico wins 2-1
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