For over 90 minutes, Mexico was held by the 101st-ranked team in the world, its Gold Cup hopes appearing to be impossibly deferred.
One extra-time whistle later, and El Tri was back on course to a stage on which it is accustomed to performing.
Raul Jimenez's 93rd-minute penalty was all Mexico wound up needing to outlast Haiti in their Gold Cup semifinal in Glendale, Ariz., Tuesday night, winning 1-0 to book a trip to Sunday's final in Chicago. The call was not without dispute. Both Jimenez and Herve Bazile extended their legs high trying to make a play on the ball just inside the Haiti box.