Colombia advanced to the semifinals of the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-1 victory over Mexico before a 2005 tournament record-crowd of 60,050 at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Sunday afternoon.
Colombia's Abel Aguilar netted the game winner in the 76th minute with a long-distance chip over the outstretched arms of Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, stunning the pro-Mexico crowd.
In the first half, Colombia dominated the pace of the game but could not capitalize on several solid scoring chances.
Colombia struck first in the 58th minute when Jaime Castrillon headed in a cross from Jairo Pitino to take a 1-0 lead.
Six minutes later, Mexico equalized when Gonzalo Pineda delivered a powerful shot from inside the box that was created off a deflection by a Colombian defender.
Tempers flared throughout much of the match as the referee handed out a total of 10 yellow cards, ultimately leading to the expulsion of Mexico's Albert Medina during the 90th minute of the match.
Colombia will face Panama on Thursday in New York at 9 p.m. ET.
Miller Lite Man of the Match: Tressor Moreno, Colombia
COLOMBIA - MEXICO 2:1 (2:1)
COL- Castrillon (Patino) 58'
MEX- Pineda 64'
COL- Aguilar 76'
COL: 1-Farid Mondragón, 3-Jose Julian De La Cuesta, 4-Humberto Mendoza, 9-Wason Liberado Renteria (18-Martin Arzuaga 72'), 10-Tressor Moreno, 13-Yulian Anchico, 15-Jaime Castrillon, 17-Jairo Patino (6-Juan Carlos Ramirez 90'), 19-Juan Fernando Leal (16-Hector Hugo Hurtado 72'), 21-Abel Aguilar, 23-Oscar Enrique Paso.
TD: Reinaldo RUEDA (COL)
MEX: 1-Moises Munoz, 2-Francisco Rodríguez, 3-Carlos Arnaldo Salcido, 4-Ricardo Osorio, 7-Antonio Naelson (18-Aaron Padilla 64'), 14-Gonzalo Pineda, 16-Mario Mendez (10-Omar Bravo 61'), 17-Rafael Marquez Lugo (22-Hector Altamirano 33'), 19-Alberto Medina, 21-Gerardo Galindo, 23-Luis Ernesto Perez.
TD: Ricardo LAVOLPE (ARG)
Booked /Amonestado:
COL - Patino 23', Moreno 37', Anchico 42', Castrillon 57', Hurtado 89'
MEX - Galindo 28', Naelson 62', Perez 80', Medina 83'
Sent off / Expulsado:
MEX - Medina 90' (two yellow cards)
Officials / Arbitros:
R: Rodolfo SIBRIAN (SLV)
A1: Carlos PASTRANA (HON)
A2: Reynaldo SALINAS (HON)
FO: Mauricio NAVARRO (CAN)
