Mexico 3 Dominican Republic 2
June 14 – In a city that saw tens of thousands on the street during the day protesting the mass deportations of immigrants by Donald Trump’s administration, the Gold Cup kicked off in an eery atmosphere of uncertainty at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Where Inter Miami played out a snooze-all draw in the opening of FIFA’s Club World Cup at the Hard Rock against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, Concacaf delivered a goalfest with jeopardy in LA with a match scoreline that defied the form book and championed the right of the little guys to take on the elite in real and meaningful competition. This was a match that meant something and was played by teams that knew it.
Mexico were in town (well, Long Beach, after having had to transfer from their downtown hotel) and they like it at the SoFi, the scene of their 2023 Gold Cup final win and the Nations League triumph in March. Mexico are a constant in this region, as is their fan base, and even with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) camped outside in the aptly named Orange car park (even that must amuse Mr T), more that 50,000 tickets had been sold with about 38,000 turning up to support their team.
The other constant is that Mexico invariably win and they started their Gold Cup defence doing just that, beating the Dominican Republic 3-2, but it wasn’t the comfortable kick about that the Mexicans would have been hoping for to start the tournament.
Dominican Republic, having been dominated in the first half and falling two behind early in the second, fought their way back into the game and pushed all the way to the end, straining every sinew to the last corner of the match in an effort to get an equaliser.
Mexico, set up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Gimenez and Jimenez up front, and controlled the game from the start. They could easily been ahead as early as the third minute when Santiago Gimenez was felled on the left edge of the box by Jean Lopez. Raul Jimenez hit the rebound from the fee kick wide.
The Mexicans had quickly settled into an easy and attractive passing rhythm, controlling the ball in the Dominican Republic’s half, pushing and probing against an obdurate Dominican Republic with a point to prove and who weren’t afraid of the physicality.
A ball over the top to Gimenez was well blocked by the committed Xavier Valdez in Dominican Republic’s goal, falling to Jimenez who fired wide. Two minutes later Valdez thwarted Jimenez again. On the half hour mark, Luiyi de Lucas, cutting in from left back flashed his shot wide of Valdez.
Dominican Republic had their first shot on goal a minute later with Edarlyn Reyess breaking away on the left but lacking the composure to force a save from Angel Malagon sending his shot high and wide.
What had become a wait for Mexico to score was ended in the 43rd minute with Edson Alvarez, a dominant force at both ends of the pitch, heading in a corner from Orbelin Pineda from the centre of the box.
Two minutes into the start of the second half Mexico were two up. A slick passing move on the right hand side saw the ball threaded to Jimenez who calmly slotted the ball past Valdez.
Such was the commanding finesse of the goal that it really looked like it was over for Dominican Republic.
No-one told the Dominicans that and on 50 minutes they had reduced the deficit after Getafe winger Peter Gonzalez cut in from the right and beautifully curled the ball left footed past a despairing Malagon – 2-1 and the tide looked to be turning.
Time for Mexico to find a bit more and Cesar Montes delivered, heading in another corner from Pineda – 3-1 and the 2 goal lead restored.
But it was definitely game-on with Dominican Republic showing they weren’t just here to make up the numbers.
On 66 minutes they pulled a goal back. Heinz Morschel driving in on the left fed Edison Azcona whose shot was deflected by Alvarez past a horribly statuesque Malagon – 3-2.
Dominican Republic now had the self belief and they were rattling it at the Mexico. As the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes and a further six minutes of added time, Mexico were under pressure. A succession of Dominican Republic corners failed to find their man, leaving Mexico and their fans eventually breathing a huge sigh of relief – a welcome relief from a week of trauma and fear.
The Gold Cup is up and running, and what a passionate start to the tournament this was in contrast to FIFA’s Club World Cup money-fest.
Mexico and Dominican Republic will now head to Arlington, Texas, where the Mexicans meet Suriname and Dominican Republic meet Costa Rica in four days time.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1749980041labto1749980041ofdlr1749980041owedi1749980041sni@n1749980041osloh1749980041cin.l1749980041uap1749980041
| Grp A | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Costa Rica | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suriname | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dominican Republic | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |