The second half of the second half of Edson Álvarez gave Mexico a 2-1 victory over the United States and a 10th Concacaf Gold Cup title in a hectic final in Houston's NRG stadium on Sunday evening.
Match report
Mexico defeated the United States 2-1 to retain the Concacaf Gold Cup and to lift the title for a record-expanding 10th time on Sunday.
A header 13 minutes of the time of Mexico-skipper Edson Alvarez completed a Come-From-Behind victory for 'El Tri' after a typically fought struggle between the North American arch rivals and co-guest lords of 2026 World Cup.
The victory was no less than Mexico earned after a long time to dominate against the inexperienced American side of Mauricio Pochettino, who went to the tournament, missed several regulars of the first choice.
The winner of Alvarez turned a fairy -tale return to Houston after he left in tears in the Mexico's opening match of the Copa America in tears last year.
“It's a very emotional moment for me,” said West Ham's midfielder afterwards.
“Since I arrived in Houston, I have thought of that heartache. I just asked life to give me a joy.”
The US had received a dream start, central back Chris Richards that led the hosts to a lead of the fourth minute for just under 71,000 fans in the Houston NRG stadium.
Sebastian Berhalter's perfectly recorded curly free kick of wide on the right-wing panic in the Mexican defense and Kristalpaleis defender Richards bowed a look in a powerful header that was channeled from the bottom of the bar and over the line.
But that early effort was to be the best chance of the US on a first half that Mexico checked, so that most of the opening camped for 45 minutes on the territory of the host country.
The 16-year-old Prodigy Gilberto Mora of Mexico threatened to catch an equalizer in the 24th minute, but his curling shot was saved by the American goalkeeper Matt Freese.
Three minutes later, although Mexico attracted level.
Marcel Ruiz has drenched an excellent pass to veteran striker Raul Jimenez, who crashed an unstoppable shot in the roof of the net.
JOTA LEFTER
Jimenez celebrated by producing a shirt with the name and number 20 of the late former Wolverhampton Wanderers teammate Diogo Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal star who died in a car accident in Spain last week.
Mexico continued to cure the better chances through the rest of half and the low shot of Roberto Alvarado, forced a good rescue from Freese in the 35th minute.
Freese had to be alert again at five minutes from the rest, where the powerful strike of Mora was reserved by the US goalkeeper while it ran to the top corner.
Alex Freeman almost nodded the US back before the break after the hesitation by goalkeeper Angel Malagon, but his header was channeled back from the face of the Mexico stop.
The second half followed a similar pattern, in which Mexico saw the more threatening side when the US struggled to create something on the other side.
The breakthrough, however, finally came in the 77th minute, when Johan Vazquez's Flick-On was met by Alvarez who flowed a header in the net past Freese.
The goal was chalked for offside, but repetitions showed that Alvarez was clearly aside, and after a check from the video assistant referee, the decision was destroyed on the field and the goal was.
Mexico has now won the Gold Cup 10 times a record, three more than the US, who have seven there.
“Of course we are disappointed not to get away with a victory,” said Captain Tim Ream of the US after the defeat.
“We started really well and then they clearly got an enchantment in the game in the second part of the first half. We just missed a little calm when we won the ball, to move them around a little,” Ream added.
Line-ups
United States XI: Tim Ream, Adams, Luca de la Torre, Matt Freese, Chris Richards, Malik Tillman, Sebastian Berhalter, Diego Luna, Alex Freeman, Max Arfsten, Patrick Agyemang
Subs: Walker Zimmerman, Matt Turner, Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, Brian White, John Tolkin, Brenden Aaronson, Nathan Harriel, Jack Mclynn, Quinn Sullivan, Chris Brady, Damion Dows
Mexico XI: Jimenez, Roberto Alvarado, J. Gallardo, César Montes, Alexis Vega, Luis Malagón, Jorge Sánchez, Alvarez, Johan Vásquez, Marcel Ruiz, Gilberto Mora
Subs: G. Ochoa, Ángel Sepúlveda, Orbelín Pineda, Julián Quiñones, Carlos Rodríguez, César Huerta, Santiago Gimenez, Érik Lira, Israel Reyes, Raúl Rangel, Jesús Jesús, Jesús Jesús, Jesús Jesús, Jesúc
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