Mexico beats Haiti to take Olympic qualifying semifinal spot
Posted October 04, 2015 7:00 am
CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Raul Lopez Gomez scored on a penalty kick in the 74th and defending Olympic champion Mexico beat Haiti 1-0 on Sunday night to wrap up a spot in the semifinals in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2016 Rio Games.
Mexico, 2-0 in Group B, will complete round-robin play against Honduras on Wednesday night in Commerce City, Colorado, with the winner taking the top spot.
Mexico's victory also gave Honduras a semifinal berth Oct. 10 in Sandy, Utah. Honduras beat Costa Rica 2-0 in the first game of the doubleheader to improve to 2-0.
Mexico opened with a 4-0 victory over Costa Rica on Friday night.
Haiti was coming off a 1-0 loss to Honduras.
Mexico celebrates their goal in the second half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match against Haiti in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. Mexico won 1-0. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Mexico midfielder Eric Gabriel Gutiérrez Galaviz, front, and Haiti midfielder Venel Saint Fort (13) flight for a ball in the second half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. Mexico won 1-0. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Haiti goalkeeper Luis Valendi Odelus makes a save against Mexico in the second half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. Mexico won 1-0. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Mexico defender Hedgardo MarÃn Arroyo, left, and Haiti forward Manchini Telfort fight for the ball in the second half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. Mexico won 1-0. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Mexico midfielder Raúl López Gómez, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Luis Guadalupe Loroña Aguilar in the second half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match against Haiti in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. Mexico won 1-0. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Mexico midfielder Luis Guadalupe Loroña Aguilar, right, heads the ball away from Haiti midfielder Venel Saint Fort (13) in the first half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Haiti midfielder Woodensky Marlet Cherenfant (10), left, and Mexico defender Victor Alfonso Guzman Guzman (10) fight for the ball in the first half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Mexico defender Rodolfo Gilbert Pizarro Thomas, left, and Haiti midfielder Jhon Miky Benchy Estama jump for the ball in the first half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Mexico midfielder Arturo Gonzalez (7) left, and Haiti midfielder Fernander Demas (6) fight for the ball in the first half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Haiti defender Severe Verilus, left, and Mexico midfielder Luis Guadalupe Loroña Aguilar fight for the ball in the second half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. Mexico won 1-0. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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Haiti goalkeeper Luis Valendi Odelus makes a save against Mexico in the first half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
The Associated Press
Mexico defender Rodolfo Gilbert Pizarro Thomas (5) and Haiti midfielder Jhon Miky Benchy Estama (7) fight for the ball in the first half of a CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifying soccer match in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
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