📝 Mexico survives Haiti scare, heads to 2019 Gold Cup finals | OneFootball

Icon: OneFootball

OneFootball

Pedro Heizer·3 July 2019

📝 Mexico survives Haiti scare, heads to 2019 Gold Cup finals

Article image:📝 Mexico survives Haiti scare, heads to 2019 Gold Cup finals

The seven-time Gold Cup champions are headed back to the finals after defeating Haiti 1-0 in extra time in Arizona.

In a game where Mexico was far the superior team, it was Haiti that stole the show by holding the mighty El Tri to zero goals in regulation, pushing them to extra time to find a winner.


OneFootball Videos


Mexico dominated the possession game all night long with 70% compared to Haiti’s 30%, and had 27 shots, while Haiti managed only 11.

El Tri’s best chance in regulation was early in the 10th minute after a free-kick as the ball found it’s way to the feet of Roberto Alvarado who fired an effort that drifted left of the goal.

Two minutes later, Mexico continued to press after a corner as Jonathan Dos Santos tried a volley from just outside the goal and somehow wasn’t able to convert, sending the ball over the crossbar.

Haiti were well-organised and frustrated Mexico, who struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the game.

Article image:📝 Mexico survives Haiti scare, heads to 2019 Gold Cup finals

In the extra time, Mexico got questionable penalty call go their way to break the deadlock as RaĂșl JimĂ©nez scored from the spot to give Mexico the 1-0 lead.

Haiti continued to press, and nearly recreated their magic late in the 119th minute when Mikael Cantave’s 20-yard strike hit the crossbar with Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa easily beaten.

With the win, Mexico moves on to the Gold Cup finals on Sunday. El Tri will take on the winner of the Jamaica-USA match.


Player of the Match: Johny Placide (Haiti)

Article image:📝 Mexico survives Haiti scare, heads to 2019 Gold Cup finals

Despite the loss, Placide was the man of the match thanks to his key saves to keep the score within reach for Haiti all night long. Placide withheld the early Mexico pressure to help his team navigate the game but was unable to defend the penalty late in the game that gave El Tri the slight 1-0 victory.