Mexico open Gold Cup run with a win over the Dominican Republic

Raul Jimenez won and scored from the penalty that gave Mexico the lead in San DiegoPhoto: Navil Segura/ Prost Amerika

It could be perfectly understood if soccer was the furthest thing on anyone’s mind on Saturday evening.

Mexico’s has played two games at SoFi Stadium in the past, and both games had boasted loud and boisterous sellout crowds of 72,000 and 68,000. However, the combination of ICE raids across Southern California and the numerous “No Kings” protests that took place all across the region and the country, undoubtedly cast a pall over Mexico’s opening match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup against the Dominican Republic on Saturday evening, as only 54,309 attended Saturday’s match in Inglewood.

Despite the dimmed atmosphere, the fans who were there did there best to present the same joyous atmosphere that had always been there, especially once El Tri started playing like its usual dominant selves. Edson Alvarez led the way for El Tri, as he scored two goals, and his brace combined with a goal from Raul Jimenez helped Mexico turn back a spirited challenge from the DR, as they went onto the 3-2 win.

El Tri had a corner kick in the 44th minute, Orbelin Pineda sent the corner into the penalty area and Alvarez’s header beat keeper Xavier Valdez near post to stake Mexico to the lead. Mexico took the lead into halftime, then took only a minute to double the lead, as Robert Alvarado passed to Santiago Gimenez, then sprung Jimenez, who had timed his run well enough to avoid the offside flag, Jimenez took a touch, then fired a right-footed shot just outside the six-yard box past Valdez into the back net.

The Dominican Republic however showed it was not simply going to be a pushover for El Tri. The DR got on the board in the 51st minute, as Peter Federico had the ball in the right side, made a cutting move inside to dribble into the penalty area, then fired a left-footed shot that looked harmless, yet it still got past keeper Angel Malagon far post to cut El Tri’s lead to a goal.

Mexico however had a response just two minutes later. Mexico had another corner kick, Alexis Vega sent the corner into the penalty area, and once again, it was Alvarez that again delivered, as he again headed a ball, and while the ball took a deflection, the result was still the same, as the ball got past Valdez and into the back net to restore El Tri’s two goal lead. The Dominican Republic made it interesting, pulling a goal back in the 67th minute, as Heinz Morschel played Edison Azcona into the penalty area, Azcona took a couple of touches, then when he finally saw a sightline, fired a right-footed shot that got past two Mexico defenders and Malagon far post to again made it a one-goal game for the Dominican Republic. Mexico however were able to deny the DR any chances at leveling the match the rest of the way.