By Geoff Pruce

Mexico claimed top spot in Group A at the Gold Cup with a goalless draw against Costa Rica in Las Vegas on Sunday.

With both sides already qualified for the Quarter-Finals, it was winner-takes-all to see who would go through in first, though a point was sufficient for the Mexicans owing to their slightly superior goal difference.

Raúl Jiménez led the line for his side and almost opened the scoring midway through the first half, only to see his stunning 20 yard volley clawed out of the top corner by Keylor Navas.

The Fulham man will have been disappointed not to have hit the target with a header early in the second half, with Costa Rica reacting as a long range strike cannoned off the crossbar.

Raúl was replaced by Santiago Gimenez soon after, and the substitute thought he’d won it deep into stoppage time with a brilliant bicycle kick, only for VAR to rule it out.

Mexico will face Group D runners-up Saudi Arabia in the knockouts on Saturday.