Raúl Jiménez set up a mouthwatering Concacaf Gold Cup final, striking the only goal in Mexico’s 1-0 victory over Honduras on Wednesday night to book a showdown with the United States with the trophy on the line on Sunday.
Jiménez struck five minutes after halftime, advancing onto a pass from rising star Gilberto Mora and drilling a low shot past Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjívar to ensure Mexico’s place in the final of this tournament for the fourth time in a row. Mora started the game in a bold move from head coach Javier Aguirre and last weekend became the youngest player ever to feature for Mexico’s senior men’s team at 16 years and 257 days.
Mexico looked to have doubled its advantage three minutes later when Edson Álvarez nudged the ball home amid a scramble in Menjívar’s box, but after a review the goal was disallowed and Honduras remained in contention.
Jiménez, who now has 42 goals for his country, is closing in on the national record of 52 set by Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, and his intervention was the telling moment in a ill-tempered match marred by a handful of flashpoints.
While Aguirre’s Mexico and Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT both endured nervous moments during the competition, there is little doubt that, overall, they have been the two strongest teams, and that the final in Houston will certainly by played between the two-highest profile programs in the Concacaf region.
The USMNT and Mexico did not meet in the Concacaf Nations League earlier this year thanks to the U.S.’s demoralizing semifinal defeat to Panama, which was followed by another loss to Canada in the third-place game. Mexico won the tournament with a fair degree of comfort. During that tournament, Jiménez was the undisputed star, scoring twice against Canada in the semifinals and again vs. Panama in the final.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pochettino’s side held on to beat Guatemala 2-1 on the strength of two Diego Luna goals in a game played in front of a fiercely pro-Guatemala crowd at Energizer Park in St. Louis. Mexico and the U.S. have combined to win every edition of the Concacaf Gold Cup save for one (Canada, 2000). Mexico is the all-time leader with nine Gold Cup titles, followed by the U.S.’s seven.
(Top photo: Omar Vega / Getty Images)
