A strong individual effort by Santiago Gimenez produced the lone goal in the 88th minute, and Mexico defeated Panama 1-0 on Sunday in the championship game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Inglewood, Calif.
Orbelin Pineda’s long pass found Gimenez just past the halfway line, one-on-one with Panama defender Harold Cummings. With Cummings on a yellow card, he couldn’t bully Gimenez off the ball, and Gimenez took advantage by dribbling into the penalty area with Cummings chasing.
Gimenez, who entered the game just three minutes earlier, then rolled a left-footed shot that snuck past Panama goalie Orlando Mosquera and went inside the right post.
The goal lifted Mexico to its record ninth Gold Cup title, its first since 2019. The United States is second with seven. The only other nation to win since the current format was implemented in 1991 was Canada, the 2000 champion.
Panama was competing in its third final, having lost to the United States in 2005 and 2013.
Mexico appeared to take a lead in the 33rd minute, but Henry Martin’s goal off a cross from Luis Romo was overturned for an offside call after a video review.
Mexico finished with a 23-14 edge in shots, including a 7-2 advantage in shots on target. Mexico goalie Guillermo Ochoa made two saves, while Mosquera stopped six shots.
–Field Level Media
