CONCACAF Gold Cup

The quarter-finals for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup have been set, as the United States will face El Salvador in Philadelphia on Wednesday and Mexico take on Honduras in Glendale, California, on Thursday.

El Tri and the Stars and Stripes have combined to win 12 of the 13 editions of the tournament―Canada won in 2000―and are again favoured to lift the trophy this year.

It hasn't been smooth sailing for either side, however, with both held to a draw in the group stage. For a look at the final group results, visit the event's official website by clicking here.

Panama held the Stars and Stripes to a draw in their first match, and the USA had to battle for Group B supremacy until the end, with a 3-0 win over Nicaragua giving the side a better goal differential.

As shared by the team's official Twitter account, manager Bruce Arena recognised the need for additions to the squad:

Reinforcements have arrived 🇺🇸.#BehindTheCrest | Presented by @BudChelada 📰 | https://t.co/off9KTt04E pic.twitter.com/mg7F5dy4sI

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) July 17, 2017

Arena has added six players to his team: Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, Darlington Nagbe and Jesse Gonzalez. The first four all have more than 100 caps, and their experience in high-pressure situations should be a welcome addition to the team.

One player who didn't get the call is Christian Pulisic, who will instead complete pre-season training with Borussia Dortmund. The Gold Cup isn't a priority tournament for the USA, and the 18-year-old's development can only benefit from more time in Germany.

El Salvador advanced to the next round thanks to a draw against Jamaica on the final matchday. La Selecta are comparable to Panama and Martinique, two teams that gave the Americans some trouble during the group stage. The fresh additions should swing the match in the USA's favour, however.

Mexico have also been far from their best, and unlike the hosts, they are not expected to add to their squad, per Tom Marshall of ESPN FC:

Osorio said #mex won't be adding anyone to the #goldcup2017 squad, but we'll find out 100% in coming hours. #eltrieng https://t.co/jPGQkRLq0A

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) July 17, 2017

The Gold Cup has given El Tri an opportunity to experiment with some of their fringe players, as the team's top stars were in action at the FIFA Confederations Cup two weeks ago.

Mexico will face Honduras in their next match, and their opponents qualified for the quarter-finals thanks to an awarded win over French Guiana.

On paper, it should be an easy win for Mexico, setting up a semi-final against Jamaica or Canada.

Costa Rica's status as genuine contenders for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup will be put to the test on Wednesday, as they face Panama in the first of the competition's quarter-finals.

Los Ticos enjoyed a straightforward passage into the knockout stages of the tournament, winning two and drawing one to top Group A. However, there has been little reward for that achievement, as Panama are a potentially tricky opponent.

They also picked up seven points in the group stage, including a creditable 1-1 draw with the United States, but were eventually bumped out of top spot due to goals scored. They're a team with the attributes needed to win on any given day in this competition.

Read on for the key viewing details for this match from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and a preview of what should be one of the tightest of the four quarter-final matches.

Date: Wednesday, July 19

Time: 6 p.m. (ET), 11 p.m. (BST)

TV Info: Fox Sports 1 (U.S.)

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go (U.S.)

       

Match Preview

Ahead of the Gold Cup, Costa Rica frequently assume the role of tournament dark horses behind outright favourites Mexico and the United States. This year, though, Los Ticos feel a little closer to being thoroughbred challengers.

While they may be without talismanic goalkeeper Keylor Navas and were dealt a major blow in the form of Joel Campbell's long-term layoff, a core of their first-team squad is at this tournament. After topping their group, this feels like a big opportunity for Oscar Ramirez's team to push on.

Although they would have been slightly disappointed to drop points against Canada in their second group game, there is no complacency on the part of Costa Rica, as noted by Roger Gonzalez of CBSSports.com:

Costa Rica striker celebrating a 5th-minute goal vs. French Guiana as if it were to win the World Cup. Pretty much sums up this Gold Cup.

— Roger Gonzalez (@RGonzalezCBS) July 15, 2017

That's vital, as any lack of focus against Panama would be costly for the Group A winners. Nevertheless, Los Canaleros manager Hernan Gomez and his players will feel capable of springing an upset.

We've seen different sides to the Central American outfit at this tournament. Against the United States, Panama were defensively robust and spirited in a 1-1 draw; against Nicaragua, they recovered from a one-goal deficit to win 2-1; and against Martinique, they were comprehensive in a 3-0 win.

Striker Gabriel Torres has been the main threat for Panama at the tournament so far, netting two goals. The Costa Rica defence must be alert to shut him down, while their attacking players will need to be inventive and incisive to apply sustained pressure to the back four.

After all, as noted by Fox Soccer, Panama were pretty close to usurping the United States at the top of Group B:

The #USMNT wins Group B on a tie-breaker (goals scored).

Panama will play Costa Rica. U.S. will face Honduras or 3rd place team in Group C. pic.twitter.com/2nRv6whXd0

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 16, 2017

Given their involvement in CONCACAF qualifying, these two teams know one another well and that may make for a cagey contest.

Costa Rica have had some trouble with Panama as of late. The last meeting came in June, when Los Ticos were held to a 0-0 draw on home soil in San Jose, and Panama beat Costa Rica 1-0 in January at the Copa Centroamericana too.

This time, however, Los Ticos should have too much for their diligent opponents. The challenge for Costa Rica will be remaining patient in getting the likes of Bryan Ruiz, David Ramirez and Ariel Rodriguez on the ball in dangerous areas. Do that, and the extra dash of quality in their XI should see them through.

Prediction: Costa Rica 1-0 Panama

The group stage at the 2017 Gold Cup is now complete and eight teams will battle to become CONCACAF champions.

While the tournament started with 12 squads competing in a round-robin format, the stakes are now higher with one loss being enough to send a team home. Adjusted rosters also give the nations a chance to provide a higher quality of competition for the remaining matchups.

Mexico or the United States have combined to win this tournament 12 of 13 times, but anything can happen in the coming rounds.

           

Quarterfinal Schedule

July 19: Costa Rica vs. Panama (6 p.m. ET)

July 19: United States vs. El Salvador (9 p.m. ET)

July 20: Mexico vs. Honduras (10:30 p.m. ET)

July 20: Jamaica vs. Canada (7:30 p.m. ET)

The #GoldCup2017 quarterfinals are set! pic.twitter.com/8OrOT3LsO8

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 17, 2017

     

Preview

Mexico, Costa Rica and the United States were the highest-ranked teams entering the tournament, and the three should remain the top contenders going forward.

The United States struggled a bit during the group stage with its "B team," but the performance was better than what it showed two years ago at this event, as Paul Carr of ESPN noted:

Don't let anyone tell you this Gold Cup group stage was like 2015 for the #USMNT: pic.twitter.com/AaCJMpvtZ4

— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) July 16, 2017

Allowing opponents to take 30 more shots isn't a good recipe for success, and the luck finally ran out for what became a fourth-place finish. This time around, the squad controlled possession and came through with two key wins and a draw.

Meanwhile, the Americans should get a nice boost with the addition of some regulars from the national team.

Per Steven Goff of the Washington Post, Tim Howard, Michael Bradley, Darlington Nagbe, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore will all compete with the team for the knockout round. This could make the squad tough to beat going forward.

Then again, Costa Rica won't be an easy out after showcasing impressive defense in the group stage. The team allowed just a single goal in three matches and should continue this level of play into the quarterfinals.

Mexico has also left its biggest stars at home, but that hasn't stopped the squad from outscoring opponents 5-1 in three matches.

Based on its recent history, the team will remain a favorite for the 2017 title.

            

Group Stage Tables

Group A

1. Costa Rica (7 points)
2. Canada (5 points)
3. Honduras (4 points)
4. French Guiana (0 points)

         

Group B

1. United States (7 points)
2. Panama (7 points)
3. Martinique (3 points)
4. Nicaragua (0 points)

         

Group C

1. Mexico (7 points)
2. Jamaica (5 points)
3. El Salvador (4 points)
4. Curacao (0 points)

          

While there were some surprising results along the way, the final tables ended up looking similar to what many had predicted.

As United States coach Bruce Arena explained, the result was all that mattered.

"I would think that you could say we wasted some opportunities, and made it pretty difficult on ourselves," Arena said after Saturday's win over Nicaragua, per Jeff Carlisle of ESPN. "However, in the end I'm pretty proud of our team that they kept battling, and they knew that they needed three goals in the game today and they managed to do it in the end."

Costa Rica and Mexico also had their hardships with draws against the teams that eventually finished second in their groups. Still, they managed to avoid catastrophe by coming through with first-place finishes.

The biggest disappointment to this point is probably Honduras, which won the Copa Centroamericana and has qualified for the last two World Cups.

In the Gold Cup, however, the squad failed to tally a single goal in three matches. It only advanced thanks to an awarded forfeit from French Guiana, which was eventually ruled a 3-0 win for Honduras.

On the other hand, Alphonso Davies and Canada have exceeded expectations and could continue their run with an appearance in the semifinals.

Still, the past results won't matter once the knockout round begins Wednesday.

Mexico earned a 2-0 victory over Curacao in the Alamodome in San Antonio at the 2017 Gold Cup to claim the top spot in Group C and advance to the quarterfinals.

The #GoldCup2017 quarterfinals are set! pic.twitter.com/8OrOT3LsO8

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 17, 2017

Angel Sepulveda scored the opening goal for Mexico, and Edson Alvarez provided an insurance goal in the first minute of second-half injury time.

In its previous match, Mexico struggled to break down an organized Jamaican defense. The two teams played to a 0-0 draw, with El Tri getting six shots on target over the 90-plus minutes.

On Sunday, Mexico only had to wait 22 minutes before Sepulveda got them on the board. His header was placed perfectly at the far post, leaving Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room no chance to make the save.

ESPN FC's Tom Marshall praised the delivery from Raul Lopez:

Such a good cross by Raul Lopez and neat header from Angel Sepulveda. #mex takes the lead! #goldcup2017 #eltrieng

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) July 17, 2017

With Mexico taking an early lead, most expected El Tri to continue throwing numbers forward and taking advantage of a Curacao team that was already eliminated from possibly advancing and had allowed four goals in two games.

Instead, Mexico needed a fantastic performance Jose de Jesus Corona in order to preserve the victory. Corona was particularly pivotal during a frenzied sequence in the 56th minute.

The Cruz Azul goalkeeper saved Gino van Kessel's close-range effort and then appeared to get his fingertips to a shot by Gevaro Nepomuceno that caromed off the crossbar and out of danger for Mexico.

KICK provided an accurate summary of Corona's one-man show:

Mexico defending against #CUW #Corona pic.twitter.com/xkzR6wnU0N

— COPA90 US (@Copa90US) July 17, 2017

Fox Deportes' Mariano Trujillo didn't feel enthusiastic about Mexico's performance to that point considering how important Corona had been:

I said it during the #ConfedCup and I'm saying it again...when ur goalkeeper is your best player in the pitch, is not a good sign. #MEXCUW

— Mariano Trujillo #MT19 #SinLlorar (@marianot19) July 17, 2017

Curacao's defense wore down the longer the match went on. Room made a great save on an Elias Hernandez shot in the 81st minute and another on a header by Jair Pereira in the 86th minute.

Room gambled on Alvarez's shot in the 91st minute, running off his line to close down the Club America defender. He was too late, however, to prevent the 19-year-old from curling a right-footed shot inside the right post.

The 2-0 scoreline flatters Mexico somewhat, with ESPN FC's Eric Gomez tweeting how desperate the team had been late in the second half prior to Alvarez's goal:

Mexico's faking injuries and making time. In the Gold Cup. Against #CUW. Yeah.

— Eric Gomez (@EricGomez86) July 17, 2017

With Sunday's win, Mexico will play Honduras on Thursday in the quarterfinals. Most importantly, it was drawn in the opposite half of the bracket as the United States, so the two countries would face off in the final should they meet.

While El Tri are unbeaten through their first three matches, they'll likely need to improve in the knockout stages if they're going to defend their Gold Cup crown, especially if they meet their neighbors to the north in the final on July 26.

In the final game of Group B action at the 2017 Gold Cup, the U.S. men's national team put together a much-improved performance in a 3-0 victory over Nicaragua Saturday. 

With Panama's 3-0 victory over Martinique earlier in the day, Team USA knew coming into the showdown with Nicaragua it needed to win by at least three goals to claim the top spot in Group B. The pressure was lessened since the U.S. had already secured a spot in the knockout phase. 

Coming off Wednesday's close call against Martinique, United States head coach Bruce Arena took drastic action with an all-new starting lineup:

🔒 in for #USAvNCA! Introducing our starting XI for our #GoldCup2017 group stage finale.

Lineup notes: https://t.co/rL3hXo53y4 pic.twitter.com/slb6778zLQ

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) July 15, 2017

This was the first-ever meeting between the United States and Nicaragua. Both sides came out of the gate with a lot of energy, running at a fast pace and trying to wear the other down. 

The U.S. finally broke through in the 36th minute thanks to Joe Corona, who navigated around three Nicaraguan defenders before getting off the shot that went into the corner of the goal:

Joe Corona gets the #USMNT going with his first goal since the 2013 Gold Cup! @ModeloUSA #ModeloSoccer #GoldCup2017 https://t.co/Rr1RYX9jWv

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 15, 2017

While Corona showed tremendous skill on his goal, OptaJack showed some love to Alejandro Bedoya for his assist on the play:

8 - @AleBedoya17's assist was his eighth for the #USMNT since the start of 2013, the fourth most over that time. Captain. #GoldCup2017

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) July 15, 2017

That would be the only goal in the first half, leaving plenty of unrest for a United States team that has struggled to close things out so far in the Gold Cup. Panama forced a 1-1 draw in the first game of group play for both teams when Miguel Camargo scored in the 60th minute. 

Martinique scored two goals in a span of eight minutes to square things 2-2 against the United States before Jordan Morris was able to bail the Americans out with the game-winning score in the 76th minute.

ESPN Stats & Info did note the U.S. had waited to do all of its scoring in the second half of this year's Gold Cup prior to Saturday: 

Joe Corona gives USMNT a 1-0 halftime lead over Nicaragua; entering today, all 4 U.S. goals in #GoldCup2017 had been scored in the 2nd half

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 16, 2017

With something having to give, the United States stepped up with the kind of effort it needed to build some confidence and momentum heading into the knockout phase. 

Bedoya tallied his second assist when he set up Kelyn Rowe's first goal as a member of the United States national team in the 56th minute for a 2-0 advantage:

Kelyn Rowe scores his first #USMNT goal & puts the U.S. 1 goal away from winning the group! @ModeloUSA #ModeloSoccer https://t.co/HviST9UbEr

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 16, 2017

Matt Miazga would finish the U.S. scoring with a header following a terrific floater pass over Nicaraguan defenders from Graham Zusi:

MATT MIAZGA! His first #USMNT goal gives the U.S. a 3-0 lead & puts them 1st in the group. @ModeloUSA #ModeloSoccer https://t.co/XV0HOIpEYH

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 16, 2017

If there is a nitpick from this win, Team USA did squander two penalty kicks in the second half that could have cost the team dearly if not for the late surge. 

At this stage of group play, getting the win was the most important thing for the United States. Being able to take the top spot is an added bonus since it sets the team up for a third-place opponent in the quarterfinals. 

The 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup continued on Friday with the last two fixtures in Group A featuring Costa Rica taking on French Guiana and Canada challenging Honduras.

Canada and Costa Rica entered play tied atop the group standings with four points, though Canada held the top spot by virtue of having a goal differential of plus-two. 

Costa Rica had a golden opportunity to move ahead of the Canadian team because French Guiana entered Friday with an 0-2 record in group play and had the worst goal differential (minus-five) of any team in this year's Gold Cup.

The full schedule and standings are available on the Gold Cup's official site.

Here are the results from Friday's action at Toyota Stadium:

Costa Rica def. French Guiana, 3-0

Canada tied Honduras, 0-0

It was a good news-bad news night for Canada in its 0-0 tie with Honduras in the final Group A match. 

The good news is Canada made it through group play unbeaten with one win and two draws, and it knew after French Guiana's defeat earlier in the night it had made it into the knockout phase. 

The bad news is the Canadians were unable to make up the two goals it needed in order to take the top spot in Group A. Costa Rica stole the group win with its victory over French Guiana.

Honduras improved its chances of securing a spot in the knockout phase, though only the top two third-place teams will move on, so it will be waiting on the weekend results to find out its fate.

Alberth Elis nearly gave the Honduras squad a lead late in the first half on this attempt:

HT: La Pantera nearly puts #HON up before the break, but it's still scoreless.#CANvHON: https://t.co/RD18rqs86M pic.twitter.com/1WAZghvBIh

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 15, 2017

Although the end result wasn't what it wanted, Canada will take it because it will move on to the quarterfinals. It hadn't reached the knockout phase at the Gold Cup since 2009.

Regardless of the whether it moves on to the quarterfinals, Honduras has bounced back nicely after going winless in group play two years ago. 

Costa Rica 3, French Guiana 0

Costa Rica was able to accomplish two things with its 3-0 victory over French Guiana on Friday night. The most important accomplishment was qualifying for the knockout stage with a 2-1-0 record in group play. 

Costa Rica becomes the first team to qualify for the knockout stage. French Guiana is eliminated. #GoldCup2017 pic.twitter.com/rPmeMU6DHe

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 15, 2017

Secondly, thanks to its three-goal margin of victory, Costa Rica was able to take over the top spot in Group A from Canada. 

Ariel Rodriguez immediately got things started for the Costa Rican squad, firing a shot off a corner kick past French Guiana goalkeeper Donovan Leon for a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. 

Goals don't get much easier than this! Costa Rica lead 1-0 early. @ModeloUSA #ModeloSoccer #GoldCup2017 #CRCvGUF https://t.co/KigaNmMIA8

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 14, 2017

Things would remain tense for most of the match, as neither team was able to break through against the other's defense. Costa Rica would cling to a one-goal lead until the 79th minute when Rodney Wallace beat Leon with an assist from Marco Urena. 

David Ramirez added the exclamation point for Costa Rica four minutes later. 

This year's tournament has already been a big improvement for Costa Rica compared to its previous Gold Cup appearance in 2015. That group did make it out of group play thanks to three draws, and its two wins represent its best showing in the group phase since 2013. 

Mexico and Jamaica each moved one step closer to the quarterfinals of the 2017 Gold Cup after battling to a 0-0 draw Thursday in Denver. 

It was a rematch of the 2015 Gold Cup final, but this time Jamaica was able to force at least a draw thanks to its extremely conservative play. 

Both teams earned wins in their first matches and could have clinched a spot in the next round with a win in this one, but they now settle for four points each through two rounds of group play. El Salvador remains in the hunt in Group C with three points following Thursday's win over Curacao.

El Tri controlled the action in this match, holding possession for 73 percent of the time while taking almost three times as many shots, per ESPN. Jamaica didn't do much offensively outside of a few counter-attacks and didn't even put a shot on goal.

However, Mexico still couldn't break through due to sloppy play and poor shots in the final third.

It was the second straight match Mexico had to play without manager Juan Carlos Osorio, who received a six-game suspension for his conduct during the Confederations Cup. His absence seemed to have some effect on a squad that couldn't get on the scoresheet.

The start of the match provided an indication of what fans should expect for the entire 90 minutes.

Tom Marshall of ESPN summed up the first half of play:

#mex 0-0 #jam . Not the best 45 mins for #eltrieng. Jamaica not exactly inspiring, either. #goldcup2017

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) July 14, 2017

Mexico controlled the majority of possession and earned more looks at the net, but the closest it came to a goal was an Erick Torres header that went off the post.

😱😱😱

So close for @erickestefano15! #MEXvJAM #GoldCup2017pic.twitter.com/s4zTGvOgfV

— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) July 14, 2017

The second half didn't feature many more opportunities with Jamaica staying conservative and Mexico unable to get much done in the final third.

No one watching along seemed to be enjoying what became a relatively boring game:

This crowd does not seem happy... #ElTriEng

— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhfutbol) July 14, 2017

https://twitter.com/soccermexicana/status/885715858248523776

The final whistle was followed by a chorus of boos from those in the stands, knowing they could have gotten a better show than a scoreless draw.

Both teams will wrap up the group stage in this tournament with matches on Sunday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Jamaica will take on El Salvador while Mexico will face Curacao.

While both teams remain in good shape after the latest result, they will likely still need to earn at least a draw in their final matches to ensure a spot in the next round. 

The second round of group-stage fixtures is set to conclude Thursday in Denver, as El Salvador take on Curacao and Mexico face off with Jamaica.

Mexico and Jamaica both won their first match of the tournament, with El Tri laying claim to the top spot in Group C after having scored one more goal than the Reggae Boyz. One of the two could create some space atop the table Thursday.

The stakes were also relatively high for El Salvador and Curacao. A defeat for either side would have been a major blow with just one more round of matches ahead. Although the two best third-place finishers advance to the quarterfinals, four points might be the minimum amount required to move on in the tournament.

Below is an overview for how Thursday unfolded. The full schedule and standings are available on the Gold Cup's official site.

     

El Salvador 2, Curacao 0

Two early goals were enough for El Salvador as they earned a 2-0 victory over Curacao.

Gerson Mayen put El Salvador ahead in the 21st minute, and Rodolfo Zelaya doubled their lead three minutes later. Curacao were somewhat fortunate to only lose by two goals. El Salvador owned a 20-9 advantage in shots and spoiled what were golden scoring opportunities later in the match.

Curacao got off to a bright start, though, and looked like they might take something away from the match before Mayen's opening goal. The Curacao defense left him wide open in the 18-yard box, and he had plenty of time to beat Eloy Room at the near post.

A defensive breakdown also contributed to Zelaya's goal. Gillian Justiana lost track of the 29-year-old forward, who slid a shot past Room at the far post off an assist from Nelson Bonilla.

Gevaro Nepomuceno could've halved the deficit for Curacao in the 44th minute.

The referee awarded Curacao a penalty after Darwin Ceren handled the ball in the 18-yard box. Derby Carrillo dove to his right and saved Nepomuceno's penalty to keep the clean sheet.

With the win, El Salvador are third in Group C and bumped Honduras as the last of the two third-place finishers who are currently in position to earn a quarterfinal berth.

Curacao, on the other hand, are in a tough spot since they're essentially in a must-win situation against Mexico on Sunday. Even with El Tri fielding a weakened lineup in the Gold Cup, taking three points from the match won't be easy for Curacao.

          

Mexico 0, Jamaica 0

Arch Rivals FC's Trevor Hayward offered this withering assessment of Mexico's 0-0 draw with Jamaica:

Going to stay tuned to FS1 for the upcoming Darts tournament just so I can see somebody finally hit the target after watching #MEXvJAM

— Trevor Hayward (@HeyHayward) July 14, 2017

Jamaica didn't register a shot on target over the 90-plus minutes, while 11 of Mexico's 14 shots were off the mark as well.

Maxi Rodriguez of Where Is Football may have overstated his enthusiasm with the result, considering El Tri earned a 3-1 win when they met the Reggae Boyz in the final of the 2015 Gold Cup:

https://twitter.com/FutbolIntellect/status/885718583258398720

Despite the fact he wasn't on the touchline, Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio is unlikely to see less pressure after the draw. He was serving the second match of a six-match suspension issued by FIFA, so he was unable to offer his input during the match.

Still, El Tri's performances have been up and down since he replaced Miguel Herrera in October 2015. The Gold Cup is supposed to be an opportunity for some of Mexico's fringe players to make a big impression ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Through two matches, few are standing out from the crowd.

Mexico remain on track to qualify for the quarterfinals, but supporters will likely expect more when El Tri take the field against Curacao.

Mexico and Jamaica will be out to secure their progression to the knockout stages of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Thursday, as they meet at Sports Authority Field in Denver.

In a repeat of the 2015 final, both teams will know three points will be enough to take their place in the bracket. That's after they each won their opening matches, with champions Mexico too strong for El Salvador and Jamaica comfortable winners over Curacao.

Prior to Group C's glamour contest, El Salvador and Curacao will meet knowing three points are key if they are to extend their tournament beyond the group stage.

Read on for the latest viewing details and a preview of the two matches to come from Denver on Thursday.

             

Thursday Schedule

El Salvador vs. Curacao, 8 p.m. (ET)

Jamaica vs. Mexico, 10 p.m. (ET)

            

TV Info: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go 

             

Thursday Preview

Although the stakes are not as high as they were two years ago when Mexico and Jamaica met, this match is an important one.

After all, given they are comfortably the two strongest sides in the group, whoever emerges victorious will almost certainly top the pool and ensure what should be a more routine fixture in the knockout stages.

Mexico got the better of the Reggae Boyz a couple of years ago and while they are without suspended manager Juan Carlos Osorio, they started this tournament with an impressive 3-1 win over El Salvador.

Elias Hernandez was the man who inspired this win, with Fox Soccer awarding him with the man-of-the-match gong after a fine display:

No doubt who the #MEXvSLV Man of the Match is!

Elias Hernandez scores 1 goal and has 2 assists in #ElTri's win over Salvador. #GoldCup2017 pic.twitter.com/ZnYIbZ8607

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 10, 2017

It's players like Hernandez who have a chance to shine for Mexico at this tournament, with a clutch of the nation's star names left out. Young midfielder Orbelin Pineda also took his opportunity, as did Angel Sepulveda, who impressed in the final third.

Jamaica are good enough to cause problems for the champions. Although much has changed since their run to the final in 2015, they remain a tight-knit group and showed great patience to eventually break down a determined Curacao side.

It was Darren Mattocks who sparked the team into life, coming off the bench to score the second goal in a 2-0 win. As noted by sports journalist Simon Preston, if he can net against Mexico, it would be a landmark goal: 

1 more goal at the Gold Cup and Mattocks will be Jamaica's leading goalscorer ever at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. @DarrenMattocks @caribbeanftbl

— Simon Preston (@SimonPreston93) July 10, 2017

Still, as a collective it's important Jamaica improve if they are going to contain Mexico on Thursday, as they lacked impetus and invention for long spells against Curacao.

In the day's earlier game, both Curacao and El Salvador will be out to prove something following their Match 1 losses.

It will be intriguing to see whether star full-back Cuco Martina will be involved in this fixture. As noted by Paul Joyce of The Times, the 27-year-old is poised to join Everton over the coming days:

Cuco Martina to arrive at Everton this weekend. Cover across defence. Free transfer from Southampton.

— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) July 12, 2017

Curacao will need the defender to be at his energetic best here, as they seek to bounce back from that loss to Jamaica. They certainly have it in them to do so, having shown plenty of positive traits when beating the Reggae Boyz to become Caribbean champions in June.

With a match against Mexico looming in the final game, it's necessary they pick up some points here. And you sense they will against an El Salvador outfit who were wide open at times against El Tri.

             

Predictions: El Salvador 0-2 Curacao, Jamaica 1-3 Mexico