Mexico bounces back at Gold Cup

SEATTLE – Raul Jimenez scored off of a corner kick late in the first half, and Marco Fabian converted a penalty early in the second as Mexico bounced back from an opening-game loss to beat Canada 2-0 in a CONCACAF Gold Cup group-stage game Thursday night at CenturyLink Field.

Mexico, which lost 2-1 to Panama last Sunday, climbed back into contention in heading into Sunday’s Group A finale against Martinique in Denver.

Mexico and Martinique are tied with three points each.

Panama leads the group with six points.

Panama will play Sunday against Canada, which has been eliminated from contention.

Panama 1, Martinique 0: Gabriel Torres buried a penalty in the 85th minute and Panama advanced to the quarterfinals.

Martinique, which beat Canada in its first game, can still advance out of the group stage but will need to beat Mexico on Sunday.

Torres, who had three dangerous shots saved from the run of play by goalkeeper Emmanuel Vermignon, made good on his try from the spot, sending the ball to the back left corner. The penalty was given when Jairo Jimenez was taken down in the box by Sebastien Cretinoir.

Martinique nearly tied the game in stoppage time, but Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo pulled down a target ball in the box while crashing into Martinique’s Kevin Parsemain.