CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: Mexico put aside a potential doping scandal to claim its second five-goal win of the Gold Cup Thursday, while El Salvador kept its slim hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica. Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez and Giovani Dos Santos scored two goals each as Mexico thrashed Cuba 5-0 to retain the Group A lead. Hours after the Mexican soccer federation suspended five players — including PSV Eindhoven defender Francisco Rodriguez and starting goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa — for testing positive for a banned substance, Mexico got off to a sluggish start before putting the game away with a three-goal burst in a 5-minute span midway through the second half. “We knew that game was going to be complicated,” Mexico coach Jose Manuel De La Torre said. “They were going to clog our spaces and counterattack. But we needed to take care of the important opportunities. You could see in the first half we weren't effective. In the second half we took advantage of opportunities and you see the result.” Dos Santos scored twice during the flurry that overwhelmed Cuba, which has been outscored 10-0 in two games. Aldo De Negris also scored before Hernandez' second goal put the match beyond any doubt. Earlier, substitute Randall Brenes scored in the closing seconds of stoppage time as unbeaten Costa Rica salvaged a draw with El Salvador. Brenes, who entered in the match in 80th minute, sent in a low shot from inside the box that beat Miguel Montes to the far post. Rodolfo Zelaya scored from a free kick in the 45th minute for El Salvador, which lost 5-0 to Mexico in its tournament opener. El Salvador coach Ricardo La Volpe was angered by American referee Jair Marrufo's decision to award four minutes of added time, then allow some additional time that allowed for Costa Rica to draw. “We are very upset about the last-minute goal,” La Volpe said. “The referee added four minutes and it was a huge exaggeration. And aside of those four minutes he even added another minute. I'm really, really upset about this. I don't judge the result of this game, but it's an uncomfortable situation.” Mexico plays Costa Rica Sunday to decide who finishes the first round on top of the group, while El Salvador needs a big win over Cuba to have any chance of advancing as the second-placed team. Meanwhile, CONCACAF spokesman Ben Spencer said the regional governing body would meet in a conference call Friday to decide possible sanctions for Mexico, and to determine if El Tri is allowed to replace the suspended players. Decio de Maria, secretary general of the Mexican football federation, said he believes the positive results for banned anabolic agent clenbuterol came from the players eating tainted meat. Defender Edgar Duenas, and midfielders Christian Bermudez and Antonio Naelson also were suspended. “We will wait for the final result,” De La Torre said of the doping investigation. “We will be waiting for the CONCACAF result and what they decide.”
