Mexico won its first game under interim coach Jaime Lozano, opening the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 4-0 victory over Honduras on Sunday night.
Luis Romo beat goalkeeper Luis López with an 18-yard left foot shot about 50 seconds in, Mexico's fastest Gold Cup goal. He doubled the lead in the 23rd minute with his third international goal, a close-range header after Jesús Gallardo nodded a corner kick in front of the net.
Mexico wasted no time getting their campaign underway, scoring within the first minute in front of a sold out 66,255 capacity crowd at the NRG Stadium in Houston.
Breaking down the left AEK Athens’ Orbelin Pineda crossed the ball to Monterey’s Luis Romo who drove the ball home.
It immediately lifted the pressure that had gathered like a storm cloud over coach Diego Cocca, his Mexican team and the national set up following the 3-0 loss to the US in the Nations League semi-finals 10 days ago in Las Vegas.
It also snuffed out the expectations of Honduras who were looking to return to the glory years of 2010 and 2014 when the qualified for back to back World Cups and 2009, 2011 and 2013 when they made it through to Gold Cup semi-finals.
On 10 minutes the Mexican fans had started the Mexican wave as their team sat deep and absorbed a spell of Honduran pressure who had come into the match full of expectation and hope, but had been shocked into life by the incisiveness of that opening attack.
Two teams who have been moving in the wrong direction will meet to kickoff play in Concacaf Group B on Sunday as Mexico takeon Honduras. Mexico are led by interim manager Jamie Lozano who will be without Cesar Montes and Gerardo Artega who have both been suspended for additional games after being sent off during Mexico's loss to the United States in Concacaf Nations League semifinals. Already without key players and with pressure rising by the day, El Tri are a team that need to win the entire tournament but that could be tough for them considering their inconsistency.
Honduras are also onto another coach with Diego Vazquez leading the team. Despite their attacking talent, they have struggled to score goals but also have been susceptible to red cards. Facing Mexico, even with their struggles, mistakes have to be limited.
The win leaves Mexico top of Group B. They face second-placed Haiti on Thursday while Honduras take on Qatar.
Read more
NASCAR changes Nashville schedule due to weather,Ross Chastain holds off Martin Truex Jr. Angels drubbing of Rockies: Halos ride 13-runinning to historic night at Coors
Sarah H
Also on site :
- I-70 closed in Glenwood Canyon for safety concerns, police activity
- Russian cat becomes world champion 2025
- 2 dead, 1 injured in overnight Westminster house fire