Raul Jimenez’s 50th-minute goal was all Mexico needed to beat Honduras 1-0 on Wednesday in Santa Clara, Calif., and advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
The assist on the winning play came from 16-year-old Gilberto Mora, who became the youngest player ever to appear for the Mexican national team when he debuted in the quarterfinals against Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
El Tri will square off against the United States for the championship on Sunday in Houston.
Mexico will be aiming to add to its record total of nine Gold Cup championships, including a victory in the most recent edition in 2023. The U.S. team is a seven-time champion.
Shortly after halftime, Mora took a pass just outside the Honduras 18-yard box, worked his way around a defender and slipped a pass on the pitch into the box. Jimenez ran onto the ball and fired a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
Mexico goalkeeper Angel Malagon made one save while recording a clean sheet. Honduras’ Edrick Menjivar stopped two shots.
–Field Level Media
