Mexico Shatters Records with Stunning Gold Cup Quarterfinals Victory
Mexico secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia to book their place in the Gold Cup semifinals, setting up a clash with Honduras.
Following a challenging opening period where Mexico struggled to break down Saudi Arabia's defensive setup, El Tri bounced back after the interval and swiftly found their opener through an excellent combination between Raúl Jiménez and Alexis Vega, with the latter netting his maiden Gold Cup strike.
El Tri maintained their control throughout the remaining minutes, doubling their advantage courtesy of an unfortunate own goal from Abdullah Madu.
While Mexico delivered a competent display, supporters may sense this squad has additional potential to unlock. Mexico has yet to face opposition that provides a genuine test of their capabilities, and Honduras in the semifinals will likely continue this pattern.
The route to the Gold Cup final appears highly favorable for Javier Aguirre's team, though their current performance level may prove insufficient against either Canada or the USMNT should they reach that stage.
Nevertheless, Mexico fulfilled their obligations and their Gold Cup title defense continues to progress smoothly.
Key observations from Mexico's triumph over Saudi Arabia are outlined below.
Liga MX Champions Shine
Current Liga MX titleholders Toluca have established themselves as Mexico's premier club this season, largely due to the exceptional partnership of Marcel Ruiz and Alexis Vega. Both athletes transferred their club excellence to the international stage, propelling El Tri to success.
Ruiz controlled the midfield battle, securing eight individual contests throughout the evening while consistently positioning himself between defensive lines to initiate offensive movements. Having appeared just once for El Tri before this summer campaign, the 24-year-old midfielder seems to be establishing his reputation with Mexico during the Gold Cup.
Vega emerged as the standout performer of the evening. His exceptional ability was clearly demonstrated as he orchestrated Mexico's most threatening attacks. Even during Mexico's struggles to find the decisive moment, Vega persistently demanded possession while seeking to create opportunities. This represented a composed display from El Tri's number 10, culminating in his first international goal in more than two years.
With Vega and Ruiz on the field, Mexico mirrored Toluca's title-winning approach, as the duo frequently combined along the left wing. Their understanding and connection are unmistakable and should be utilized in upcoming fixtures.
Welcome to El Tri, Gilberto Mora
Perhaps the most unexpected development of the evening occurred before kickoff, as Aguirre chose to feature 16-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora in his starting formation.
Numerous questions surrounded Aguirre's approach to replacing the injured Luis Chávez. Would he switch to a 4-4-2 system? Would Carlos Rodríguez receive another opportunity to prove himself? Instead, he decided to take a chance on one of Mexico's most exciting young prospects.
Mora established himself as the youngest player to ever feature in an official match for El Tri, earning the opportunity to start in Chávez's absence. The Tijuana midfielder made his national team bow during a friendly match in January's South American tour, though he had yet to feature in the Gold Cup.
Previous Mexico national team coach Juan Carlos Osorio handed the youngster his Liga MX debut a year prior, and he responded immediately. Mora possesses exceptional technical skills and can control matches through his ball-handling abilities. While appearing anxious during the early stages, he developed confidence as time progressed and generated Mexico's best first-half opportunity.
Chavez's absence creates opportunities for others to emerge and assume his responsibilities, providing Mora with a genuine chance to secure a spot in Mexico's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
The Santiago Gimenez Dilemma
AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez entered as a substitute for the third consecutive match for El Tri, reinforcing the impression that he has become solely Raúl Jiménez's understudy for the national squad.
Aguirre utilized both forwards together during Mexico's successful Concacaf Nations League campaign earlier this year and repeated this approach in the team's Gold Cup opener. However, he has since returned to his traditionally favored 4-3-3 formation, employing the Fulham striker as his primary attacking option.
While Gimenez enjoys popularity among supporters, he has struggled to replicate his club performances with El Tri and currently finds himself in a supporting role under Aguirre's management. Despite Mexico's ongoing goal-scoring difficulties, Gimenez cannot secure a place in the starting eleven.
There's little doubt the Cruz Azul academy graduate ranks among El Tri's finest talents, but with Jiménez performing at his peak and Aguirre preferring a single striker system, he appears to be the unfortunate casualty.
We approach the two-year milestone since Giménez's last official international goal for El Tri. With the World Cup approaching in just one year, the 24-year-old forward must capitalize on his substitute appearances to overcome his scoring drought if he hopes to secure a significant role next summer.