Mexico is heading to its 12th CONCACAF Gold Cup final—and it’s all thanks to a moment of brilliance from veteran striker Raúl Jiménez. His second-half goal secured a 1-0 win over Honduras in the semifinal on Wednesday night.
Teen Talent Sparks Key Moment
The breakthrough came in the 50th minute. It started with a smooth pass from Alexis Vega to 16-year-old rising star Gilberto Mora, who calmly slid the ball to Jiménez. The 33-year-old striker made no mistake and fired a right-footed shot past Honduran goalkeeper Edrick Menjívar, marking his 42nd international goal for Mexico.
That single goal was enough to seal the win for El Tri, who now face the United States in the Gold Cup final on Sunday night in Houston. It will be the eighth time the two rivals meet in the final, with Mexico holding a 5–2 advantage in past title matchups.
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A Tense Match With Few Chances
The first half saw limited action. Honduras, ranked 75th in the world, struggled to create clear chances. Mexico’s goalie Luis Malagón made a comfortable save on Dixon Ramírez’s long shot, which was the only threat early on.
Toward the end of the half, Mexico pushed forward. Johan Vásquez had a close-range shot that deflected off a defender into the keeper’s hands. In the 42nd minute, Marcel Ruíz tested Menjívar again, who made a strong save. Defender Julián Martínez quickly cleared the rebound, keeping the score level at halftime.
VAR Denies Mexico a Second
Shortly after Jiménez’s goal, Edson Álvarez thought he had doubled the lead off a set piece. However, VAR ruled the goal offside, and it was disallowed. Still, Mexico maintained control for most of the second half.
Honduras’ Surprising Run Ends
Despite the loss, it was a surprising run for Honduras, who hadn’t reached the semifinals since 2013. They started the tournament with a 6-0 defeat to Canada, but managed to bounce back. Their last appearance in the final dates back to 1991, when they lost to the USA in a penalty shootout.
Heated Moment Early On
The match also had its dramatic moments. In the 11th minute, Romell Quioto tried to retrieve a ball that landed near Mexico’s bench. Veteran keeper Guillermo Ochoa reacted, leading to a heated exchange. Players from both teams got involved, and Ochoa received a yellow card.
