Photo: Etzel Espinosa/Getty Images
Mexico and Panama will meet in the Gold Cup final in what will be an unprecedented final of the Concacaf tournament. El Tri beat Jamaica 3-0 and the Panamanians beat the United States team on penalties after drawing 1-1 in 120 minutes.
Mexico will have the first final since 2021 when they lost 0-1 to the United States under the direction of Gerardo Martino in the team. For its part, Panama will play the final for the first time since 2013.
To date, Panama has not won any Gold Cup and has lost 2 finals. Against the United States on penalties in 2005 and again against the Americans 1-0 in 2013.
The Mexican team will seek its twelfth Gold Cup, while the Panamanians want their first tournament.
Face to face
El Tri has a clear dominance over Panama in all competitions. ANDn the last 20 clashes, the canaleros have won 2.5 draws and the Tri have won 13 games.
The last victory of the Mexican team was less than a month ago, on June 18, when they met for third place in the Concacaf Nations League.. El Tri won 1-0 with a goal from Jesús Gallardo.
In the last 5 duels, Mexico has 4 victories and a single draw. Although in the Gold Cup they are more even. Panama has won two duels, Mexico 2 and a draw in this Concacaf tournament.
Panama’s last victory against the Mexican national team was precisely in the Gold Cup. The canaleros defeated El Tri 2-1 in the semifinal of the tournament 10 years ago.
In that match, which was held on July 25 at the AT&T Stadium, Blas Pérez and Román Torres scored for the Panamanians, while Luis Montes scored the only goal for Mexico.
That edition the Panamanians lost to the United States in the final. With Mexico in the final, a 23-year streak continues in which the Tri or the United States reach the final.
The last time this did not happen was in the 2000 edition when Canada defeated Canada 2-0 to Colombia in the final of the tournament.
Mexico thrashed Jamaica comfortably
Henry Martín, Luis Chávez and Jesús Gallardo converted for the Mexicans led by coach Jaime Lozano, who showed their best performance in many months in the first half.
Mexico took advantage just in minute two with a counterattack; Luis Romo saved a ball and put it to Jesús Gallardo, who assisted Martín, lethal in the left-footed shot.
With the score in their favour, the Mexicans insisted on attacking, recovered balls in midfield and kept the disconcerted Caribbean in check.
The Mexicans, who in the opening half had possession 57-43 in their favor, extended the lead to 0-2 with an elegant left-footed goal from Chávez, from a free kick.
With 25 minutes to go, the Jamaicans organized themselves better, stepped into the area and tried to take advantage of Mexico giving them the ball.
Mexico was close to expanding the lead in minute 77 with a shot by Santiago Giménez, cleared by Dexter Lembikisa. The Mexicans made it 0-3 in minute 93, with a touch from Alvarado’s right leg, after a pass from Gallardo.
Keep reading:
Mexico easily beat Jamaica 3-0 and meet Panama in the Gold Cup final
Bombshell in the Gold Cup: The United States falls on penalties against Panama, which registers its name as the first finalist of the tournament
Will Juan Carlos Osorio return to Concacaf? The former coach of El Tri has a formal offer from Honduras and considers that it would be “an honor” to lead Costa Rica