Group A of the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was one of three groups competing at the tournament. The group's first round of matches were played on June 5, with the final round played on June 12. All six group matches were played at venues in the United States, in Arlington, Charlotte and Chicago. The group consisted of five-time Gold Cup champions, Mexico, as well as Costa Rica, El Salvador and Cuba.

Mexico vs El Salvador drug test controversy On June 5, 2011, Mexico defeated El Salvador, 5–0, in the first fixture for both teams.

Three days later, on the eve of Mexico's second fixture against Cuba, the Mexican Football Federation removed five players from their squad due to substance abuse. These players included starting goalkeeper, Guillermo Ochoa, starting center back Francisco Rodríguez and the following reserves: Sinha, Christian Bermúdez and Édgar Dueñas. The drug they tested positive for was clenbuterol, which is used in animals to produce lean meat. The supposition for the players being injected with this substance was from eating chicken that had traceable amounts of clenbuterol in it. Reports begin breaking on June 6 and were official on June 9. The "B" samples of those five involving players have been negative.

Two years later, on September 20, 2013, the Salvadoran Football Federation banned 14 Salvadoran players for life due to their involvement with match fixing while playing with the El Salvador national team over the previous two years, including 8 players (Dennis Alas, Luis Anaya, captain Marvin González, Reynaldo Hernández, Miguel Montes, Dagoberto Portillo, Osael Romero, Ramón Sánchez and Miguel Montes), from El Salvador's 5–0 loss to Mexico on June 5 at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Standings Key to colors in group tablesTeams that advanced to the quarterfinals Group winners Group runners-up Best two third-placed teams among all groups

Matches All times are U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4) (local times in parentheses)

Costa Rica vs Cuba

GK1 Keylor NavasRB4 José SalvatierraCB3 Jhonny AcostaCB15 Júnior DíazLB20 Dennis MarshallCM6 Heiner MoraCM5 Celso Borges (c)CM14 Bryan OviedoAM7 Christian Bolaños CF16 Marco Ureña CF9 Álvaro Saborío Substitutions:FW12 Joel Campbell FW17 Josué Martínez FW21 Randall Brenes Manager: Ricardo La Volpe GK1 Odelín MolinaRB16 Reysander FernándezCB14 Aliannis UrgellésCB3 Yénier MárquezLB6 Yoel Colomé RM7 Marcel Hernández CM8 Jaime Colomé (c)CM2 Carlos FranciscoLM20 Alberto Gómez SS9 Alain Cervantes CF15 Yaudel Lahera Substitutions:MF10 Roberto Linares FW18 Dagoberto Quesada FW17 Yosniel Mesa Manager:Raúl González Assistant referees: Daniel Williamson (Panama) Oscar Velasquez (Honduras) Fourth official: José Molina (Honduras)

Mexico vs El Salvador

GK1 Guillermo OchoaRB16 Efraín Juárez CB2 Francisco Rodríguez CB15 Héctor MorenoLB3 Carlos SalcidoCM6 Gerardo Torrado (c)CM8 Israel Castro RW7 Pablo Barrera LW18 Andrés GuardadoSS10 Giovani dos Santos CF14 Javier Hernández Substitutions:FW9 Aldo de Nigris DF4 Rafael Márquez FW11 Ángel Reyna Manager:José Manuel de la Torre GK1 Miguel MontesCB2 Xavier GarcíaCB23 Luis AnayaCB5 Víctor Turcios RM16 Jaime AlasCM20 Andrés Flores CM10 Eliseo QuintanillaCM14 Dennis Alas LM19 Reynaldo HernándezSS3 Marvin González (c) CF11 Rodolfo Zelaya Substitutions:MF21 Gilberto Baires MF6 Shawn Martin FW9 Rudis Corrales Manager: Rubén Israel Assistant referees: Ricardo Morgan (Jamaica) Charles Morgante (United States) Fourth official: Courtney Campbell (Jamaica)

Costa Rica vs El Salvador

GK1 Keylor NavasRB4 José Salvatierra CB3 Jhonny Acosta CB15 Júnior DíazLB20 Dennis MarshallCM6 Heiner Mora CM5 Celso Borges (c) CM24 Allen GuevaraAM7 Christian Bolaños CF16 Marco Ureña CF9 Álvaro SaboríoSubstitutions:MF10 Bryan Ruiz FW12 Joel Campbell FW21 Randall Brenes Manager: Ricardo La Volpe GK1 Miguel Montes RB16 Jaime AlasCB2 Xavier GarcíaCB5 Victor Turcios LB19 Reynaldo HernándezDM23 Luis Anaya (c)RM20 Andrés Flores CM21 Gilberto Baires LM14 Dennis AlasCF9 Rudis Corrales CF11 Rodolfo Zelaya Substitutions:MF7 Ramón Sánchez MF10 Eliseo Quintanilla MF6 Shawn Martin Manager: Rubén Israel Assistant referees: Charles Morgante (United States) Ramon Louisville (Suriname) Fourth official: José Molina (Honduras)

Cuba vs Mexico

GK 1Odelín Molina RB 16Reysander Fernández CB 4Hánier Dranguet CB 3Yénier Márquez LB 6Yoel Colomé CM 8Jaime Colomé (c) CM 2Carlos Francisco RW 7Marcel Hernández LW 20Alberto Gómez SS 9Alain Cervantes CF 10Roberto Linares Substitutions: DF 14 Aliannis Urgellés FW 15 Yaudel Lahera MF 18 Dagoberto Quesada Manager:Raúl González GK 12Alfredo Talavera RB 16Efraín Juárez CB 4Rafael Márquez (c) CB 15Héctor Moreno LB 3Carlos Salcido DM 6Gerardo Torrado CM 18Andrés Guardado RW 7Pablo Barrera LW 11Ángel Reyna SS 10Giovani dos Santos CF 14Javier HernándezSubstitutions: FW 9 Aldo de Nigris FW 22 Elías Hernández DF 20 Jorge Torres Nilo Manager:José Manuel de la Torre Assistant referees: Ricardo Morgan (Jamaica) Daniel Williamson (Panama) Fourth official: Raúl Castro (Honduras)

El Salvador vs Cuba

GK 1Miguel Montes CB 2Xavier García CB 23Luis Anaya (c) CB 5Víctor Turcios RM 16Jaime Alas CM 20Andrés Flores CM 8Osael Romero CM 14Dennis Alas LM 19Reynaldo Hernández CF 9Rudis Corrales CF 11Rodolfo ZelayaSubstitutions: MF 12Arturo Alvarez FW 17Léster Blanco MF 10Eliseo Quintanilla Manager: Rubén Israel GK 12Julio Pichardo RB 16Reysander Fernández CB 14Aliannis Urgellés CB 3Yénier Márquez LB 4Hánier Dranguet DM 6Yoel Colomé CM 8Jaime Colomé (c) CM 2Carlos Francisco RW 7Marcel Hernández LW 20Alberto Gómez CF 10Roberto Linares Substitutions: MF 19Francisco Carrazana FW 15Yaudel Lahera MF 18Dagoberto Quesada Manager:Raúl González Triana Assistant referees: Oscar Velasquez (Honduras) Ramon Ricardo Louisville (Suriname) Fourth official: Enrico Wijngaarde (Suriname)

Mexico vs Costa Rica

GK 12Alfredo Talavera RB 16Efraín Juárez CB 4Rafael Márquez (c) CB 15Héctor Moreno LB 3Carlos Salcido CM 6Gerardo Torrado CM 8Israel Castro RW 7Pablo Barrera LW 18Andrés Guardado SS 10Giovani dos Santos CF 14Javier Hernández Substitutions: FW 11Ángel Reyna DF 20Jorge Torres Nilo FW 9Aldo de Nigris Manager:José Manuel de la Torre GK 1Keylor Navas RB 4José Salvatierra CB 3Jhonny Acosta CB 15Júnior Díaz LB 20Dennis Marshall CM 6Heiner Mora CM 5Celso Borges (c) CM 24Allen Guevara AM 10Bryan Ruiz SS 7Christian Bolaños CF 9Álvaro SaboríoSubstitutions: FW 16Marco Ureña DF 19Óscar Duarte MF 11Diego Madrigal Manager: Ricardo La Volpe

Assistant referees: Daniel Williamson (Panama) Ricardo Morgan (Jamaica) Fourth official: Raúl Castro (Honduras)

References

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