LOS ANGELES: Santiago Gimenez scored the game-winner mins after coming into the fit Sunday as Mexico beat Panama 1-0 to win a record-extending 9th CONCACAF Gold Cup crown. The overall of the regional championship for North and Central The usa and the Caribbean was once a fast moving bodily affair between a Mexico crew keen to transport on from contemporary disappointments and a Panama aspect looking for a primary Gold Cup crown of their 3rd look within the finals. Gimenez began at the bench in desire of Henry Martin and, with the fit deadlocked, was once introduced on within the eighty fifth minute.
3 mins later the 22-year-old Feyenoord striker was an speedy hero. After Ivan Anderson’s go into the Mexico penalty house was once blocked, Mexico’s Orbelin Pineda got here away with the ball and handed to Gimenez at midfield. Gimenez raced into the penalty house, spinning clear of one defender and beating any other earlier than slotting a left-footed shot previous Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera. “It’s indescribable,” Gimenez stated. “It’s spectacular how the gang got here in combination to transport ahead.
I’m now not pronouncing it with phrases, it was once noticed with the name.” His fourth objective in 18 world appearances sparked frenzied celebrations a few of the in large part pro-Mexico crowd of just about 73,000 at SoFi Stadium, house of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and one of the crucial venues tabbed for the 2026 Global Cup to be hosted by means of america, Canada and Mexico. Mexico added a 9th Gold Cup name to these it received in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2019. America personal seven titles, however had been stunningly eradicated by means of Panama in a penalty shootout all over the semi-finals.
“We knew that we had been enjoying to head down within the historical past of nationwide football and alternatives will have to be seized,” stated Mexico’s meantime trainer Jaime Lozano, who had coached Mexico to Olympic Bronze on the Tokyo Video games in 2021 and was once introduced in for the Gold Cup event after Diego Cocca was once sacked final month. Cocca was once fired after a disappointing International locations League marketing campaign, which adopted Mexico’s failure to advance from the gang degree on the Global Cup in Qatar. “We’ve stated it from day one. Jaime understands rather well what it way to constitute Mexico, he understands the participant rather well, he will get the most productive out of every participant and that’s mirrored at the box,” goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who received a 5th Gold Cup name, stated of Lozano.
Lozano himself refused to be drawn on whether or not he idea he’d earned the everlasting process with a North American Global. “This resolution isn’t as much as me,” he stated. “I signed a freelance for the Gold Cup. Mexicans occasionally don’t imagine a lot within the procedure, however although we had misplaced the general these days, I believe we will have to overview many different issues, now not best the general end result. “If we agree with within the procedure, the consequences might be immensely higher.” Mexico idea they’d seized the lead within the thirty third minute when an assault introduced by means of a protracted clearance from goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa ended with Martin skipping onto a go from Luis Romo and firing a left-footed shot from the middle of the field into Mosquera’s web.
It took a number of mins earlier than a VAR overview deemed Martin was once offside. Ten mins later Mosquera saved the rating stage as he got here up with two saves in fast succession, one from Pineda and one from Martin. Closing drop of blood Panama threatened in first-half damage time, however Anibal Godoy’s shot went simply huge of the left put up. Panama have shyed away from a dangerous aid to ten males within the 63rd minute when Harold Cummings was once proven a 2nd yellow card for tripping Pineda just for referee Stated Martinez to briefly rescind it.
After Antuna examined Mosquera with a header within the 66th minute, Panama spoke back with a header from Jose Fajardo that Ochoa managed. Panama’s Edgar Barcenas got here shut with a long-range shot within the 87th however Thomas Christiansen’s Canalmen had no solution to Gimenez’s strike. “We gave the whole lot we had in these days’s sport, to the final drop of blood,” Christiansen stated. “The crew died on its toes. “Enjoying in entrance of 70,000 Mexicans in Los Angeles was once now not simple and the crew gave their all always.” – AFP