HOUSTON — Mexico beat the US 2-1 on Sunday night time for its document tenth CONCACAF Gold Cup title, with Edson Álvarez scoring a tiebreaking objective within the 77th minute after a video evaluation reversed an offside name.
Chris Richards put the U.S. forward within the fourth minute, heading in a Sebastian Berhalter free kick for the second time within the match, however Raúl Jiménez tied the rating within the twenty seventh together with his third objective of this Gold Cup.
Mexico was awarded the free kick when Diego Luna fouled Alexis Vega on a flank. Johan Vásquez flicked the restart throughout the objective mouth and Álvarez burst previous the protection, redirecting the ball from 3 yards simply inside Matt Freese’s far publish. Whereas the play was initially referred to as offside, the objective was awarded by the VAR, and Mexico defended its title from 2023 whereas bettering to 6-2 in Gold Cup finals towards the U.S.
Patrick Agyemang had an opportunity two minutes into stoppage time, however he didn’t make good contact on his short-range shot that was blocked by goalkeeper Luis Malagón.
A sellout crowd of 70,925 at NRG Stadium was about 70% pro-Mexico and booed U.S. gamers once they walked out for pregame warmups. Mexico dominated with 60% possession and had 12 nook kicks to none for the Individuals.
This was the final aggressive match for the U.S. and Mexico earlier than co-hosting subsequent yr’s World Cup with Canada.
The U.S., which has seven Gold Cup titles however none since 2021, used a beginning lineup with solely a handful of gamers at present projected as World Cup starters, lacking regulars as a consequence of trip, accidents and the Membership World Cup.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino used their absence to guage gamers who may push for beginning jobs in the course of the friendlies this fall and subsequent spring, and Luna and Agyemang emerged as contenders for World Cup roster spots.
Richards put the U.S. in entrance when he headed Berhalter’s free kick from about 40 yards off the crossbar. The ball bounced straight down and simply crossed the objective line.
Jiménez scored his forty second worldwide objective, third-most in Mexican historical past. He burst previous the protection and one-timed the cross from Marcel Ruiz, beating Freese from about 10 yards on a shot which may have nicked defender Tim Ream.
Jiménez celebrated by grabbing a Mexico No. 20 jersey with “DIOGO J” in honor of Diogo Jota, his former Wolverhampton teammate who died in a automotive crash Thursday in Spain. Jiménez ran to a nook, sat down with the jersey and mimicked enjoying a online game.
