Mexico did good business last night in the group stage of the Gold Cup. After the defending champion had a false start against Trinidad & Tobago (0-0), Guatemala was settled in Dallas: 0-3. With two goals, born Argentinian Rogelio Funes Mori, who even played an international match for Argentina in the past, played an important role for his team. The other goal was scored by Orbelin Pineda.
Mexico had to do without Hirving Lozano, who has since been released from hospital after he collided with Trinidad & Tobago keeper Marvin Phillip in the first group match. The team of national coach Gerardo Martino was the parent against Guatemala in Dallas and it was therefore a matter of waiting for the 0-1. The opening goal took less than half an hour and came in the name of Funes Mori. After a deep ball, the Monterrey striker controlled the ball in the penalty area. He cut in and shot through the inside of the post into the far corner.
Recibes, controlas, perfilas, disparas Y ADENTRO! ??? Rogelio Funes Mori, de @miseleccionmx ????, lo hizo de librito ?? y por eso es el Gol del Día, presentado por @ToyotaLatino#CopaOro21 ?? #EstoEsNuestro pic.twitter.com/NSFTgvBaOV
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) July 15, 2021
The lead for Mexico, where Ajaced Edson Álvarez played the entire game as a controlling midfielder, was deserved. Martino’s team was much stronger than Guatemala and created chance after chance. The 0-2 finally fell ten minutes after the break. PSV midfielder Érick Gutiérrez entered into the combination with Pineda in the opponent’s penalty area, who in turn served Funes Mori. It would be one of the last moves by Gutierrez, who was replaced by Jonathan dos Santos not long after Funes Mori’s second goal.
Fifteen minutes before the end, the margin was brought to three. Luis Rodriguez had a measured cross from the right wing to Pineda, who scored at the far post with a hard header. The win puts Mexico on four points, good for second place behind El Salvador, which is six points after the first two games. In a mutual duel next Monday (4:00 a.m. Dutch time), Mexico and El Salvador will decide who will be the group winner. Guetemala, which was added to the tournament as a replacement for Curaçao just before the start, is on nil points after two games.