Back on top of CONCACAF, but just barely.
Playing in front of a raucous sell out crowd of 72,000, most of whom were backing them, Mexico reclaimed the Gold Cup on Sunday evening. However, Panama made them earn every bit of that victory, as they went toe-to-toe with El Tri, holding them scoreless for most of that match while getting its fair share of chances.
However, Mexico got that one moment it needed to get the win. Santiago Jimenez’s goal in the 88th minute was all that El Tri needed to hold off Los Canaleros, and Mexico won its ninth Gold Cup title with the 1-0 result at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
With Panama having played Mexico to a virtual standstill, and with possible extra time looming, it was Jimenez that delivered the moment for El Tri in the 88th minute. Jimenez, who had subbed in for Henry Martin back in the 85ht minute, received a ball from Orbelin Pineda, juked to break free of Omar Cummings’ challenge and broke for goal, Jimenez dribbled into the penalty area and slotted the shot past keeper Orlando Mosquera far post to put Mexico ahead. El Tri was able to run out the clock and thus take the Gold Cup.
While Mexico was the favorite, Panama gave El Tri a reminder as to why they are one of the very few teams in CONCACAF that gives them problems. Panama got its first chance just two minutes in, as Adalberto Carrasquilla played a ball forward, Ismael Diaz outmaneuvered Johan Vasquez to get to the ball and earn himself an open look at goal. Diaz however got a bad touch on the ball, which enabled Vasquez to recover and take the ball away from Diaz before he could get any chance to shoot the ball. Panama continued to put pressure on Mexico during the match’s early stages, as Eric Davis sent a free kick off a Mexico wall in the 12th minute, the ball fell to Édgar Yoel Bárcenas, who one-timed a shot on goal, but was calmly saved by keeper Guillermo Ochoa, and in the 13th minute, Davis played a ball to Diaz on the left side, Diaz made a cutting move to put Jorge Sanchez to the ground. Diaz immediately shot at goal, but was blocked by Cesar Montes.
Mexico soon settled down into the match. El Tri thought they had jumped out in front in the 33rd minute, as Pineda played a ball wide to Luis Romo, who then crossed into the six-yard box and Henry Martin one-timed a ball past Mosquera near post. The goal however went to Video Review, and what was discovered was that Martin was offside, not when Romo sent the cross into the six, but earlier than that, as replays showed Martin in an offside position when Ochoa sent a long ball towards Martin’s direction. Mexico came agonizing close to an opening goal, but were foiled, not once but twice, but Mosquera, as a Romo cross into the box was dummied by Uriel Antuna, Pineda swooped in and one-timed a ball at goal, Mosquera made the save, the ball fell to Martin, but Mosquera denied him the opportunity to make amends for the disallowed goal, as he got his feet on Martin’s rebound chance and Panama eventually cleared the ball out of the penalty area.
