Mexico reached the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final with a comfortable 3-0 semifinal win over Jamaica in Las Vegas to advance to face Panama in Sunday’s final at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Henry Martin scored after just two minutes to put El Tri on their way and Luis Chavez sealed the result with a precise left-footed free kick into the top left corner. Roberto ‘El Piojo’ Alvarado scored a third deep into stoppage time.
An early goal set the tone for the game and Mexico handled the result expertly, frustrating Jamaica’s full strength. But the Premier League stars who play for the Reggae Boyz – Leon Bailey, Demarai Gray and Michail Antonio – failed to create dangerous chances to trouble Mexico goalkeeper Memo Ochoa.
Mexico will be playing for the continental title they last won in 2019 and will be favorites at the SoFi Stadium against surprise finalists Panama, who beat the USA on penalties in the semi-finals.
The turnaround under caretaker manager Jaime Lozano is all but complete within weeks of the debacle of June’s embarrassing 3-0 Nations League semi-final loss to the USA that ultimately cost Diego Cocco his job. The media in Mexico speculate that winning the gold trophy will be enough for Lozano to keep the position permanently.
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