A Mexican soccer player bled so much he had to wear a swim cap

Ninety minutes of soccer did not yield a goal in Tuesday’s Gold Cup semifinal between Mexico and Haiti. They did, however, require the use of a swim cap.

Yes, an actual swim cap.

Don’t ask us where it came from. Nor how anybody had the foresight to bring it along. But it was put to use when Mexican defender Luis “Chaka” Rodriguez took a knee to the back of the head in the second half:

Seconds after lifting himself off the grass, there was blood streaming from the back of his bald noggin, down the side of his face:

But this is soccer. Soccer doesn’t care about head injuries. Rodriguez had to get back on the field ASAP. So Mexico’s team doctors had to stop the bleeding ASAP. Their solution?

The swim cap:

As many pointed out, Adidas – Mexico’s apparel sponsor/manufacturer – might not be too pleased with the swoosh on the side of it. But it kept the blood off Chaka’s face – and, most importantly, kept him in the game.

Mexico then scored on a controversial penalty in extra time to win 1-0. It’ll play either Jamaica or the U.S. in the final on Sunday.