Mexico Advances to Gold Cup Semi-Finals Following Hard-Earned Win Against Saudi Arabia

In a decisive performance, Alexis Vega found the back of the net shortly after the interval, and an unfortunate own goal from Abdullah Madu sealed a 2-0 triumph for Mexico over Saudi Arabia in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals held in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday. This win sets up a semi-final showdown against Honduras.

Earlier in the day, Honduras triumphed over Panama in a penalty shootout, paving their way to face the defending champions, Mexico, in the semis, which will take place in Santa Clara on Wednesday.

“I’m absolutely thrilled with the effort from the team,” said Vega, who scored for Mexico for the first time since 2022. “We’re going to give it our all to recover, prepare, and aim for another grand final.”

Raul Jimenez, the Fulham forward, ignited the scoring chance with a swift through ball, allowing Vega to dart into the box. Although keeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi managed to stave off Vega’s initial effort, the Toluca attacker was quick to convert the rebound, putting the 12-time champions in front in the 49th minute.

Hope for a Saudi comeback was extinguished in the 81st minute when Matteo Chavez’s cross from the left took a deflection off Madu and rolled into the net, doubling Mexico’s lead.

Saudi Arabia, the tournament debutants who were invited to participate by the North American football governing body and reached the quarter-finals after finishing second in Group D, did remarkably well to suppress the Mexican onslaught during the first half.

Vega Shines

Vega’s diagonal strike from the left in the 13th minute sailed just over the bar, while Ali Majrashi’s acrobatic clearance thwarted Roberto Alvarado’s left-footed attempt aimed at Raul Jimenez two minutes later.

Majrashi nearly gave Saudi Arabia the lead in the 20th minute, seizing on a defensive lapse to charge into the Mexico box unopposed, but he narrowly missed the near post with his shot.

Vega was the catalyst for Mexico’s best chances, delivering a corner that found an unmarked Edson Alvarez, but Al-Aqidi’s reflexes kept the captain from scoring just before the half-hour mark.

Gilberto Mora, who made history as the youngest player to represent Mexico at age 16, set up Vega with a short pass from the left just before half-time, but Vega’s shot went wide of the mark.

Despite managing only a single shot on target in the first half, Mexico sought an early breakthrough after the interval when Ruiz cut through the Saudi defence to latch onto Vega’s through ball; however, his attempt struck the crossbar from close range.

The groans from Mexico’s supporters quickly transformed into jubilant cheers as Vega finally broke the deadlock just a minute later.