Mexico top Haiti to keep magical ride going in Group B | OneFootball

MIAMI, Florida – Mexico’s magical ride in Group B of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup kept going on Thursday night with a 3-1 triumph over Haiti at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Santiago Gimenez scored his first Gold Cup goal, while Uriel Antuna chipped in with two assists to pace El Tricolor to a second straight win and first place position in the group.

The game had an electrifying start with several big chances in the first 10 minutes. Mexico were first when an Edson Alvarez follow up shot off a block from Haiti GK Alexandre Pierre hit the post.

Seconds later Haiti’s Carlens Arcus sent a laser toward the Mexican net that sliced barely wide. The frenetic start was then capped by a Jorge Alvarez volley that just missed over the crossbar.

A golden opportunity was gifted to Haiti in the 29’, but they could not capitalize when a Mexico giveaway deep in their own half saw Wilde-Donald Guerrier shoot right at GK Guillermo Ochoa.

Things eventually settled into Mexico dominating possession and pegging Haiti back in their half, and it almost yielded a goal with Henry Martin missing just wide after a mis-hit clearance from Haiti DF Ricardo Ade.

Martin would quickly get his redemption just 44 seconds after the re-start with a thumping header off a cross from Antuna to hand Mexico a 1-0 lead.

Haiti were having difficulty dealing with Mexico in transition and it led to a second score for El Tricolor in the 56’, with a deep cross from Jesus Gallardo being turned into the Haiti net by Ade, making it 2-0.

Going down two goals, though, seemed to bring out the best in Haiti and the comeback kings of recent Gold Cups suddenly made it a 2-1 contest in the 78’ when Danley Jean smacked in a header off a corner kick.

Haiti sprung to life with the goal, but Mexico answered right back with a knockout punch, as Gimenez scored his first Gold Cup goal by steering home a right-footed shot off a cross from Antuna for a 3-1 Mexico lead in the 83’ to seal the three points.