Era Penal: Mexico Advances To Gold Cup Semis Thanks To A Questionable Penalty

Mexico have reached the semifinals of the Gold Cup, dispatching Costa Rica via a 122nd-minute penalty caused by Oribe Peralta going full-on Arjen Robben.

See for yourself.

Andres Guardado stepped up and drilled the penalty and Mexico were through.

The penalty caused its share of controversy. Given Mexico's #noerapenal exit from the World Cup, some may view the penalty as karmic. Costa Rica did not, as we can see from these tweets from Costa Rica's former and current presidents.

¡Vergonzoso! ¡Indignante! ¡Doloroso! #LaSele #CRC #CopadeOro2015

— Laura Chinchilla M (@Laura_Ch) July 20, 2015

No fue penal. Perder así NO se vale. México no ganó el partido, se lo regalaron envuelto en celofán. ¡Qué vergüenza!

— Luis Guillermo Solís (@luisguillermosr) July 20, 2015

No Era Penal is like a curse that can only be broken by another #noerapenal situation, in which the curse is then transmitted to the new country. I wonder who's next?

Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus