In this way, he adds his ninth Gold Cup since the format was changed
Panama already chains three defeats in tournament finals
The Mexico team won this Sunday the gold Cup in a hard-fought final played in the American city of Los Angeles with Panama, which in the blink of an eye from its defense fell 1-0 with a goal in the 88th minute by Santi Giménez.
The striker came on as a replacement and had only been playing for three minutes on the field when he became the hero of Mexico thanks to a great goal.
Giménez held the ball in midfield under pressure from Harold Cummings, he cut it with a skilful movement and headed straight for the Panamanian goal with a crossed shot with his left leg.
Mexico, which lost the title match against the United States in 2021, today regained the throne of Concacaf and added its ninth Gold Cup since the format was changed.
Instead, Panama, which had signed a fantastic tournament, once again he was just one step away from glory since he has lost the three Gold Cup finals he has played (2005, 2013 and 2023).
Congratulations to @carrasquilla18 for being named the Best Player of #Gold Cup 2023! ??? pic.twitter.com/fEcUUufV8T
—Gold Cup (@GoldCup) July 17, 2023
In a SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles with a great atmosphere, full of green Mexican shirts and before a total of 72,963 spectators, El Tri completed its resurrection after the failure of the League of Nations in June, which ended with the dismissal of Diego Cocca, and today they lifted the Gold Cup with their interim coach Jaime Lozano.
Unsuccessful occasions
Thomas Christiansen opted for the same Panamanian eleven that eliminated the USA in the semifinals while Lozano only made one modification in Mexico from his cross with Jamaica and gave the center of midfield to Édson Álvarez instead of Erick Sánchez.
In a alternate domain part one and alternatives opportunities abounded for both teams although without a prize in front of goal.
Mexico took the ball at the start but in minute 2 got a huge scare when Adalberto Carrasquilla, with a three-finger pass, left Ismael Díaz alone against ‘Memo’ Ochoa but César Montes prevented the Panamanian goal.
The canal team seemed to have more spark in attack and The Mexican team did not have its first approach of interest until 19when Uriel Antuna wasted a good situation with a weak shot.
Henry Martín did succeed in sending the ball into the net after a stupendous triangulation by Mexico at minute 33, but the referee canceled the goal for offside at the start of the play.
El Tri, despite this disappointment, continued to harass the rival area and would have gone into the break with a goal in their locker if it had not been for a magnificent intervention by Orlando Mosquera, who thwarted two free shots followed by Orbelín Pineda and Martín on the clearest occasion before the break.
Nevertheless, Panama also touched the goal in discount, since Aníbal Godoy caught a rebound in the front and his left-footed shot passed centimeters from Ochoa’s right post.
Heroic Gimenez
The exchange of sterile occasions in the resumption: for Panama he took the floor Alberto Quintero, with a crossed header that went wide; and for Mexico, Álvarez raised his voice, who could not finish off a service from Martín by very little.
Harold Cummings, with yellow from the first half, was about to leave Panama with ten after seeing the second card for a foul on Pineda but the VAR saved him from expulsion.
The minutes passed without the marker moving and the nerves grew before an extension that was already looming on the horizon.
Pineda for Mexico or Díaz for Panama caressed the winning goal for their teams, but finally It was Giménez, with a masterful action for El Tri, who ended up being the hero of the final.
– Data sheet:
1. Mexico: Ochoa; Jorge Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Romo, Álvarez, Chávez (Erick Sánchez, m.75); Antuna (Alvarado, m.75), Martín (Giménez, m.84) and Pineda (Reyes, m.92).
Coach: Jaime Lozano 0. Panama: Mosquera; Bárcenas, Cummings (Londoño, m.91), Escobar, Andrade, Davis (Anderson, m.61); Quintero (Waterman, m.61), Carrasquilla, Godoy, Díaz; Fajardo.
Coach: Thomas Christiansen.
Goal: 1-0, m.88: Santi Giménez.
Referee: Said Martinez (Honduras). He booked Vásquez, Montes, Gallardo and Álvarez in Mexico and Cummings, Carrasquilla, Godoy and Mosquera in Panama.
Incidents: Final of the Gold Cup played at the Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles before 72,963 spectators.
