CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C: Mexico meet table toppers Trinidad and Tobago
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As the curtain falls on Gold Cup Group C, pool leaders Trinidad and Tobago take on Central American giants Mexico, while third-placed Guatemala still have a chance of overhauling El Tri if they beat bottom dwellers Cuba by a wide margin.
Costa Rica, Panama and the United States await in the quarter-finals for the runner-up, winner and potentially highest ranked third-placed side from Pool B or C respectively, so there is still much at stake.
Gold Cup cannon-fodder Cuba have beaten Guatemala just three times from 11 encounters, so a draw at 11/2 for the Lions of the Caribbean to snatch a point and some pride may be their best hope of a result.
The island nation’s most potent threat is attacker Ariel Martinez, who famously hit a hat-trick against Belize in the 2013 edition of the Gold Cup, and is 7/2 to strike anytime, while striker Alain Cervantes is 5/1 in the same market.
For favourites Guatemala, meanwhile, flexible forward Carlos Ruiz has already been on target this tournament and is 4/1 to fire home first, with fellow marksman Minor Lopez an identical price to have the final say.
The Soca Warriors are an excellently priced 8/1 to continue their perfect pool record, or 7/2 to at least split the spoils, with the significant motivation of avoiding Costa Rica should they stay ahead of the Mexicans to emerge as group winners.
Captain Kenwyne Jones will lead the line, and the boisterous Bournemouth loanee is 7/2 to strike anytime, while Belgium-based centre back Sheldon Bateau is surprisingly Trinidad and Tobago’s top scorer so far with two, and is available at a superb 7/2 to wreak havoc again.
El Tri, meanwhile, may be depleted in attack after the loss of injured ‘little green pea’ Javier Hernandez but have still struck six so far, though all came in their thrashing of minnows Cuba. Having drawn a blank last time out the Aztecs now have something to prove.
Miguel Herrera put all his eggs in one basket in the hopes of grabbing the Gold Cup, and will also want to avoid Costa Rica in the quarter-finals. Punters can take their pick from Mexico’s marvellous marksmen, with Real Sociedad star Carlos Vela 4/1 to draw first blood, hat-trick hero Oribe Peralta 5/1 to poach two or more again and attacking midfield pair Giovani Dos Santos and Andres Guardado respective 7/4 and 7/2 prices in the anytime market.
Coral’s betting tip: Back Vela @ 4/1 to open the scoring and prove he can be Mexico’s main man
