Mexico secured a place in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals by defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The match, held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, saw Mexico break down a tough Saudi Arabian side with a goal from Alexis Vega and an own goal from Abdullah Madu.
The first half was a tight affair, with numerous fouls and few clear-cut chances. Saudi Arabia successfully neutralized Mexico's attack, leaving El Tri searching for answers. Mexico's best opportunity came late in the first half when Alexis Vega's powerful strike from outside the box went just wide. At halftime, the score remained 0-0.
Mexico came out strong after the break. In the 48th minute, Vega finally broke the deadlock, putting Mexico ahead 1-0. Mexico continued to pressure, and their efforts paid off when Abdullah Madu headed the ball into his own net, doubling Mexico's lead. Santiago Gimenez was also rushing in and could potentially have scored himself. The own goal secured a 2-0 lead for Mexico, solidifying their path to the semifinals.
Although Saudi Arabia had already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, they proved to be a difficult opponent throughout the tournament. Despite having less than a third of the ball possession, the Green Falcons frustrated the Mexican forwards for a significant portion of the match. Ultimately, Mexico's persistence and increased pressure in the second half led to their victory.
Mexico's midfield performance was particularly strong, with the players imposing themselves on the game. One player made a significant impact, demonstrating top-class skill and working hard for the team.
With this win, Mexico advances to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals, where they will face Honduras next Wednesday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. As one of the tournament's co-favorites, Mexico is now one step closer to defending their Gold Cup title, which they won in 2023. The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup is the 18th edition of the tournament, and is co-hosted by Canada and the United States.
