Mexico held their nerve to take hold of the bronze medal when they beat Barbados 5-4 in a sudden death penalty shoot at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games (Men). Both teams played to an enthralling 1-1 tie at the end of 70 minutes.

Barbados shocked the host country when they took a 1-0 lead in the 14^th minute of the match. Before this possession was fairly even but neither team was able to create any real scoring chances. Barbados’ got their breakthrough when Rohan THOMAS eliminated several Mexican defenders and his reverse strike at the top the circle was tipped in by Shonkeel WHARTON.

Mexico through Captain Pol MORENO and Francisco AGUILAR led their team’s comeback charge but they came across a stubborn and determined Barbados defence that held firm. Mexico squandered several penalty corner chances and went into the half time break a goal down.

Barbados faced an avalanche of Mexican attacks in the second half as the home team tried to get themselves back in the match. Barbados seemed content to try to defend their 1 goal advantage as they pulled everybody behind the ball at times to try to stop Mexico. On more than occasion Mexico’s MORENO and AGUILAR partnership came close to scoring but Barbados captain and goalkeeper Andre BOYCE and his defence kept them at bay. AGUILAR must have thought he scored the equalizing goal with 15 minutes to go in the game but his shot from just above the penalty spot careened off the upright.

It took a moment of brilliance in the 68^th minute for Mexico, courtesy of AGUILAR and MORENO, when the latter on the entering the field from a green card scooped a ball from the half line into the circle which an unmarked AGUILAR put past goalkeeper BOYCE to make it 1-1.

The match was then settled via a penalty shoot-out with Mexico winning 5-4 in sudden death. The scorers for both teams were:

Mexico: Edgar BORQUEZ, Ruben MARTINEZ and Francisco AGUILAR – Sudden Death: Edgar BORQUEZ and Francisco AGUILAR