Edson Álvarez helps Mexico say a-head of the United States for a 10th Concacaf Gold Cup title.
The 27-year-old Mexican professional footballer’s second-half header gave Mexico a 2-1 win over the United States and claim the title in a frenetic final at Houston’s NRG Stadium on Sunday night.
Chris Richards opened the scoring for the U.S. in the 4th minute with a brilliant header that deflected off the crossbar and just made it over the goal line, but Raúl Jiménez tied it up before halftime with a clinical left-footed finish past U.S. keeper Matthew Freese into the upper left corner.
After his goal, Jiménez paid tribute to Diogo Jota, his former teammate at Wolverhampton Wanderers who was killed along with his brother André Silva in a car crash Thursday.
With Mexico dominating possession and chances, Álvarez got on the end of a set piece and flicked the ball past Freese for the 2-1 lead. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but after a video review the goal was given, sending the majority Mexico crowd into a frenzy.
Patrick Agyemang had a chance to tie the score two minutes into second-half stoppage time, but he didn’t make good contact on his short-range shot that was blocked by goalkeeper Luis Malagón.
“We’re disappointed obviously to not come away with a win,” U.S. captain Tim Ream said.
Asked what was missing in the game for the U.S., Ream added: “A little bit of calm in some moments. We started out really well and then, obviously, they get a spell in the game and the second part of that first half, just a little bit of that calmness when we won the ball to try to move them around a little bit more.”
Jiménez scored his 42nd international goal, third most in Mexican history, in the 27th minute to level the match. He burst past the defense and one-timed a pass from Marcel Ruiz, beating Freese from about 10 yards on a shot that might have nicked Ream.
“We came from behind and are leaving with the title,” Jiménez said. “It’s great and really important to clinch the crown a summer before the World Cup. It’s something we’ve been trying to do since the tournament began.”
A sellout crowd of 70,925 at NRG Stadium was about 70% pro-Mexico and booed U.S. players when they walked out for pregame warmups. Mexico dominated with 60% possession and had 12 corner kicks to none for the U.S.
This was the last competitive match for the U.S. and Mexico before co-hosting next year’s World Cup with Canada.
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino used the same starting lineup against Mexico as he had in the Americans’ two previous knockout-round wins against Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Defending champion Mexico won its 10th Gold Cup title. The U.S. has won the Gold Cup seven times and Canada has lifted the trophy once. Sunday’s game was the eighth meeting between Mexico and the U.S. in the final.
“I’m speechless. We spent 35 days in intense training, away from our families, with the intention of winning. There’s certainly room for improvement, but we’re leaving happy and with our feet firmly on the ground,” midfielder Álvarez said. “When they first disallowed the goal, it was crazy. It threw me off balance, but I was really happy to see that it was valid.”
Missing many of its regular starters because of injuries, vacation and the Club World Cup, the No. 16 U.S managed five wins over relatively weak opponents and reached its first Gold Cup final since 2021. The meeting with 17th-ranked Mexico will be the last competitive match for both nations before they co-host next year’s World Cup along with Canada.
Pochettino used their absence to evaluate players who could push for starting jobs during the friendlies this fall and next spring, and Diego Luna, Agyemang and Freese emerged as contenders for World Cup roster spots.
The USMNT entered the Gold Cup with a four-game losing streak, its longest since 2007.
