Alexis Vega scored the essential opening objective early within the second half to assist Mexico to a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia within the Gold Cup quarterfinals in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday.
Mexico, which additionally benefited from a late personal objective, will now play Honduras within the semifinals on Wednesday in Santa Clara, California, as they give the impression of being to remain heading in the right direction to retain their title and win a record-extending tenth Concacaf crown.
Mexico was with out midfielder Luis Chávez after he tore his proper anterior cruciate ligament in coaching forward of the quarterfinal, whereas midfielder César Montes was suspended. As a substitute coach Javier Aguirre handed a debut to Gilberto Mora, who at 16 years, 219 days, grew to become the youngest ever debutant for El Tri.
The holders managed only one shot heading in the right direction within the first half because it was annoyed by a Saudi Arabia workforce that conceded solely two targets, and scored solely two, within the group part.
The stress escalated simply earlier than the halftime break — Saudi Arabia’s Ali Majrashi and Mexico’s Jesús Gallardo had been each being proven yellow playing cards after the 2 exchanged shoves.
Gallardo can be suspended for the semifinal spherical as a result of he has too many yellow playing cards within the match.
However Aguirre’s facet got here out with renewed goal initially of the second. Shortly after Marcel Ruiz clipped the crossbar, Vega broke the impasse within the forty ninth minute.
After operating onto a by means of ball from Raúl Jiménez, Vega had his preliminary shot saved by goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi however the Toluca ahead gleefully snapped up the rebound. Whereas a flag was raised on the sector for offside, it did not take lengthy for VAR to overturn the choice and award the objective.
It was Vega’s seventh objective for Mexico and ended a 19-game drought with the nationwide workforce. It additionally ended a dry spell for Mexico, which scored for the primary time in 166 minutes of play. Vega celebrated by holding aloft the jersey of injured teammate Chávez.
With Saudi Arabia unable to supply any menace going ahead, Mexico all however assured its win with 9 minutes remaining. As Santiago Gimenez regarded to get on the top of a cross from fellow substitute Mateo Chávez, Saudi Arabia defender Abdullah Madu turned the ball previous his personal goalkeeper.
The end result ended Saudi Arabia’s first look on the Gold Cup.
Mexico progressed to the quarterfinals as group winners, after wins over the Dominican Republic and Suriname and a draw with Costa Rica. Saudi Arabia completed second in its group after beating Haiti however drawing with Trinidad and Tobago and shedding to america.
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.