Mexico has a chance at their ninth Gold Cup title. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Mexico won’t make it to the Gold Cup final against USA for the third consecutive year, but El Tri can say they have kept their bargain.
A 3-0 win over Jamaica in Wednesday’s Gold Cup semifinals saw Mexico qualify for Sunday’s final against Panama at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Panama defeated the USMNT in a shootout early Wednesday.
Unlike the Panama-USA game, which remained scoreless until extra time, Mexico hardly needed time to get on the pitch. Jamaica made it easy for Henry Martin with a second-minute cross to give Mexico a 1-0 lead.
Luis Chávez followed up with a perfect free-kick in the 30th minute, giving Mexico the breathing room they needed for the next 60+ minutes.
The exclamation mark came in added time with a goal by Roberto Alvarado.
Despite the score suggesting otherwise, it wasn’t a totally one-sided affair. Jamaica had their chances and weren’t blown away in the possession column, but nothing got past Guillermo Ochoa.
A victory for Mexico on Sunday would give the team their fifth title in the last eight tournaments. With eight titles, it is one ahead of the United States and has the most Gold Cup titles of any country.