Mexico Advances To Gold Cup Final
It took over 114 minutes of regulation time but Mexico was able to defeat Canada 2-1 to punch their ticket to Vegas and face their CONCACAF rival United States in the Gold Cup Final.
A game in which just hours before the start of the semifinal round El Tri and fans got the news that “Zizinho” father of Jonathan and Giovani Dos Santos had passed away due to covid complications. News that obviously would be sure to have an effect on the team but to be seen was what effect it would.
To the surprise of many Jonathan was in the starting lineup and wanted to honor his father the only way he felt he could, which was to get on the field and play the game his father showed him to love.
Once the ball started rolling you could see the Mexican squad was all in trying to get the win for Jonathan and honor his father. Both teams had some clear opportunities in the first half to break the deadlock but both goalkeepers keep the score at 0.
It wasn’t until the 42nd minute where Tecatito was brought down inside the 18-yard box, initially the referee did not mark a foul. After a VAR decision, it was deemed a foul inside the box and a penalty in favor of Mexico.
Orbelin Pineda was the man in charge and he was able to juke the goalie and put the ball in the net with ease giving Mexico the 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
A very special moment for the Mexican team as after the goal, the entire team went to Jonathan and hugged him, and all kneeled to pray and point at the sky honoring Zizinho.
In the 2nd half, a more aggressive Canadian team stepped onto the field as they moved their lines forward pressing the Mexican team the full length of the field. They were definitely rewarded as Rogelio Funes Mori lost the ball in the attack and the Canadian team was able to muster a swift counterattack.
As midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye sent a long cross over Mexican defenders from about 3/4 of the field to a leading Tajon Buchanan who traced the ball down just outside Mexico’s 18 yard box and took on Carlos Salcedo who tried to block the shot but Buchanan was able to create some space and send a shot stunning Alfredo Talavera and tieing the game for Canada
Momentum shifted towards the Canadian side, but Mexico tried to answer back right away as in the 63rd minute a penalty was awarded as once again Tecatito Corona was hit this time just barely inside the 18-yard box.
As players scrambled to get into position Carlos Salcedo and Rogelio Funes Mori seemed to have a little argument as to who would be taking the penalty kick. Salcedo was then the one who took control of the ball a shock to many. Salcedo then proceeded to miss the penalty kick, one that could have definitely become extremely costly.
After the missed penalty both teams continued to look for the leading goal but no further damage seemed like would be done as the game seemed destined for an additional 30 minutes of play.
The clock showed 90 minutes and the referee gave an additional 7 minutes of injury time that gave Mexico just what they needed, as Hector Herrera was able to receive a pass from Rodolfo Pizarro and Herrera sent a rocket from outside the 18-yard box that went past the Canadian goalkeeper into the net giving Mexico the final 2-1 victory and their ticket to the Gold Cup Final in Las Vegas vs the United States.
