2015 Gold Cup Semifinal: The Controversial Match That Still Sparks Debate

The 2015 Gold Cup semifinal between Mexico and Panama remains a source of controversy. Panama, playing a man down from the 25th minute due to a red card issued to Luis Tejada, surprisingly took a 1-0 lead. However, in the 89th minute, referee Mark Geiger awarded a highly questionable penalty to Mexico, which led to an equalizer. The penalty sparked outrage, with commentators openly criticizing Geiger's decision. The match went into extra time, and Mexico scored another penalty, securing a place in the final. The incident resulted in a wave of international criticism of the refereeing. CONCACAF later released a statement acknowledging the referee's significant errors. The match is a prime example of how a single contentious call can overshadow a game's outcome and fuel lasting debate among fans and analysts. "It was a total robbery," one commentator stated, expressing the widespread sentiment among Panama supporters.