Alvarez decides: Mexico wins the Gold Cup again
Thanks to a well-deserved 2-1 victory against hosts USA, record winners Mexico secured another CONCACAF Gold Cup title - and also overcame an early deficit.
Record winner Mexico won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Houston – as they did in 2023. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Compared to the 2-1 win against Guatemala in the semifinals, US coach Mauricio Pochettino made no changes to the starting eleven. The Argentine fielded the same starting lineup for the third consecutive match.
In Mexico, however, coach Javier Aguirre made changes to the defensive wing positions after the 1-0 win in the semi-final against Honduras: Javier Sanchez and Jesus Gallardo started instead of Julian Araujo (not in the squad) and Mateo Chavez (bench).
Richards shocks Mexico early, but Jimenez respondsAlthough the Mexicans applied high pressure in the opening minutes, the USA got off to a dream start: Following a free kick from the halfway line, former Bundesliga player Chris Richards (Bayern, Hoffenheim) headed the ball just over the goal line with the help of the underside of the crossbar before the ball rebounded into the area (4th minute). Mexico then needed a few minutes to recover from the shock of conceding an early goal.
The longer the first half lasted, the better the defending champions got into the game. After 16-year-old Gilberto Mora forced US goalkeeper Matt Freese to intervene for the first time (24th minute), Mexico equalized at 1-1: After a clever pass, Raul Jimenez scored in goal-scoring style from ten meters (27th minute). The Mexicans then kept up the pressure, with Mora testing Freese again (40th minute).
It wasn't until shortly before halftime that the USA, who at times hadn't even left their own half, threatened again. Mexico goalkeeper Luis Angel Malagon made a lucky header after a long ball (45+1). A US lead at halftime would have been flattering, though.
VAR overturns offside decision, Alvarez's goal countsAfter the restart, Mexico again started dominant. Roberto Alvarado fired a shot just wide of the goal (51'). However, the USA increasingly fought back in the duels, allowing few shots from the defensive center.
Until the 77th minute, when Edson Alvaraz, after a free kick cross and a header, fired home from close range. The assistant referee's flag initially went up. But the offside call was overturned after a VAR check, and so the deserved 2-1 win for Mexico stood.
In stoppage time, Patrick Agyemang came close to equalizing for the USA (90+2). But in the end, it was a narrow victory for record winners Mexico, who thus defended their 2023 title and also won the Gold Cup twice in a row for the first time since 2011.
| stadium | NRG Stadium |
| Viewers | 70,000 |
Before the tournament, several stars from the USA had withdrawn from the Gold Cup - partly due to injury, partly for other reasons - including Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah .
