Mexico’s men’s national soccer team stormed into the Concacaf Gold Cup final with a dominant 3-0 victory over a lackluster Jamaica in Paradise, Nevada, on Wednesday night.
Taking the lead with a Henry Martín goal after only 80 seconds, Mexico controlled the semifinal tie. By the time Luis Chávez converted a sublime free kick in the 30th minute, after Hirving Lozano was fouled on the edge of the area, Mexico looked well on their way to their 11th Gold Cup final.
Jamaica had a much better second half, with Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa finally being called into action as the Reggae Boyz finally began to apply pressure in attack, but it was too little, too late, as Mexico held firm in the face of pressure. At the 78-minute mark, Santi Giménez beat Jamaica keeper Andre Blake on the edge of the box but scuffed his shot, allowing Dexter Lembikisa to clear the ball off the line.
A 93rd-minute goal by Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado was the icing on the cake for a team that made short work of their Jamaican opponents. The Reggae Boyz will be disappointed to miss out on the final after Panama eliminated a second-string United States team on penalties.
The night could well have gone differently, as the Jamaica team boasted several English Premier League players, including Amari’i Bell, Demarai Grey, Manchester United’s Di’shon Bernard and West Ham United sensation Michail Antonio. Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson also led Iceland to their legendary Euro 2016 run.
Apart from Wednesday’s match, Jamaica have had a storming Gold Cup, drawing 1-1 with the United States in their opening game before scoring 10 goals in the following three matches.
Panama’s win means that despite a poor 2023, the top-seeded El Trí are on course to win the continental championship for a record 9th time when they face the fifth-seeded Los Canaleros in Los Angeles, on Sunday July 16.
Mexico News Daily
