Mexico beats Panama 1-0 in CONCACAF Gold Cup final as Giménez scores 88th-minute goal
The Hindu
Mexico reversed its fortunes with stunning speed, winning the Gold Cup with a late goal from Santiago Giménez. El Tri dominated play, but Panama defended capably until the 88th minute when Pineda made a tremendous pass to Giménez
Eight months and two coaches after Mexico crashed out of an embarrassing World Cup, most of the same players triumphantly raised the CONCACAF Gold Cup amid confetti and raucous cheers on Sunday night.
El Tri has reversed its fortunes with stunning speed, and its winning goal at SoFi Stadium came on an end-to-end play that was every bit as dramatic.
Late substitute Santiago Giménez scored after an electrifying sprint in the 88th minute, and Mexico won the Gold Cup for the record ninth time with a 1-0 victory over Panama.
After Edson Álvarez slid to block Iván Anderson's cross in the Mexico penalty area, Orbelín Pineda dribbled away and made a tremendous pass into the center circle. Giménez, the 22-year-old Feyenoord forward, dribbled past Harold Cummings and outraced Cummings and Fidel Escobar into the penalty area.
Giménez scuffed a bouncing left-foot shot over goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera for his fourth goal in 18 international appearances and his second of the tournament.
“It’s the biggest moment of my career,” Giménez said. “I just tried to get down the field quickly. We followed our principles throughout the game, and they worked perfectly. The result was great, because there were a lot of competitive teams in this tournament.”
The goal by the Argentina-born Giménez, who came on only three minutes earlier, set off a frenzied celebration at a Southern California stadium packed with fans celebrating Mexico's revival in this biennial CONCACAF tournament. After Mexico was eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup for the first time since 1978, El Tri rebounded with an excellent tournament under interim coach Jaime Lozano, who took over the beleaguered program only a month ago after a Nations League loss to the U.S.
Pakistan supports Bangladesh's refusal to play T20 World Cup matches in India due to security concerns, backing their stance to the ICC.
Charalampos Kostoulas's stunning stoppage-time overhead kick earns Brighton a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth in the Premier League.
India Women will compete in a five-match T20I series in South Africa from April 17 to 27, 2026.
Jemimah and Lee lead Delhi Capitals to a convincing victory over Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League.
Manush Shah aims for Asian Games glory after a historic 2025, balancing multiple events while seeking to elevate Indian table tennis.
Hyderabad Toofans secure a 3-2 win over HIL GC, clinching third place in the Hockey India League.
Suryakumar Yadav emphasizes team performance over personal statistics ahead of India's T20I series against New Zealand.
Rahul Gandhi requests a cricket academy in Raebareli during his visit, emphasizing local sports facility improvements.
Mitchell Santner emphasizes focusing on T20 success against India, aiming for better preparation ahead of the World Cup.
Gael Monfils bids farewell to the Australian Open 2026, receiving a standing ovation after a hard-fought first-round loss.
FIFA president Infantino condemns Senegal's chaotic conduct during the Africa Cup final, urging respect for match officials and rules.
Barcelona's 11-match winning streak ends with a 2-1 loss to Real Sociedad, marked by disallowed goals and missed opportunities.
Shubman Gill will play for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy, prioritizing domestic cricket despite recent ODI losses.