Mexico beats Honduras in Santa Clara to face U.S. in Gold Cup final
By JOSH DUBOW
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Raúl Jiménez scored in the 50th minute off an assist from 16-year-old Gilberto Mora and Mexico advanced to its 12th CONCACAF Gold Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Honduras on Wednesday night.
El Tri advanced to play the United States in the final Sunday night in Houston for the eighth meeting in the title game between the two countries with Mexico owning a 5-2 edge. Mexico has won nine Gold Cups, the U.S. seven and Canada one.
Mexico broke through early in the second half on a play started by Alexis Vega with a pass to Mora near the top of the box. Mora slid a pass to Jiménez, who beat Edrick Menjívar with a right-footed shot for his 42nd career international goal.
No. 17-ranked Mexico appeared to add to that lead a few minutes later when Edson Álvarez tapped in a goal off a set piece but that was negated when video review ruled he was offside.
But El Tri managed to hold onto that lead as 75th-ranked Honduras was unable to generate an equalizer.
Honduras reached this stage for the first time since 2013 despite losing the opener of the tournament 6-0 to Canada. The Hondurans haven’t made the final since the inaugural tournament in 1991 when they lost in penalty kicks to the U.S.
There were few good chances in the first half with Mexican goalie Luis Malagón making an easy save on Dixon Ramírez’s shot from outside the box after not facing any shots on goal the past two games.
El Tri had two good opportunities late in the half. Johan Vásquez’s shot in the box deflected off Honduran defender Denil Maldonado and right into the hands of goalie Menjívar.
Menjívar then made a sharp save against Marcel Ruíz in the 42nd minute and Julián Martínez cleared the rebound out of danger.
There was a chippy moment in the 11th minute when a ball was played into the Mexico bench area. Romell Quioto aggressively tried to get the ball for Honduras and Mexican reserve Guillermo Ochoa took exception, leading to players on both teams getting heated and a yellow card for Ochoa.