In a thrilling showdown, Mexico triumphed over the United States 2-1 in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, claiming their record 10th title. Edson Álvarez scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute after a VAR review overturned an offside ruling. The match began with Chris Richards giving the U.S. an early lead in the fourth minute from a Sebastian Berhalter free kick. However, Raúl Jiménez equalized for Mexico in the 27th minute, netting his third goal in the tournament, following a free kick awarded for a foul on Alexis Vega.
The winning goal came after Johan Vásquez flicked the free kick to Álvarez, who managed to redirect the ball inside the far post from close range. Mexico, with a substantial fan presence at NRG Stadium (approximately 70% support), showcased dominance with 60% possession and 12 corner kicks, compared to none for the U.S.
This match marked the last competitive encounter for both teams before co-hosting the World Cup with Canada next year. The U.S. squad, which has seven Gold Cup titles but hasn’t won since 2021, fielded a team lacking several regular starters due to vacations, injuries, and commitments in the Club World Cup. Coach Mauricio Pochettino utilized this opportunity to assess players aiming for future roster spots.
Richards scored with a well-placed header off the crossbar, while Jiménez, who celebrated his goal by paying tribute to his late former teammate Diogo Jota, solidified his place as one of Mexico’s top scorers. Despite a late opportunity from Patrick Agyemang for the U.S., Mexico held firm to secure the victory.
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