Mexico see off Saudi Arabia to set up Honduras semi-final showdown
Mexico overcame Saudi Arabia to seal a CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final meeting with Honduras, who beat Panama on penalties.
Mexico set up a CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final showdown with Honduras, following a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Arizona.
Alexis Vega's strike and an Abdullah Madu own goal kept the reigning champions' title defence firmly on track at State Farm Stadium.
Javier Aguirre's side broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half. Raul Jimenez's throughball released Vega, who finished at the second attempt after his initial effort was blocked by goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi.
El Tri put the contest beyond their opponents nine minutes from time when Mateo Chavez' cross, which was aimed at Santiago Gimenez, was turned into his own net by Madu.
Mexico will now face Honduras in the last four, after Los Catrachos edged out Panama on penalties earlier in the day.
The clash went the distance after Anthony Lozano cancelled out Ismael Diaz's first-half penalty, though Lozano was denied the opportunity to seal victory in the shootout by goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
Nevertheless, Eduardo Guerrero subsequently fired over in sudden death, allowing Carlos Pineda to slot home the decisive kick.
Data Debrief: Mora makes history as Mexico notch 200th goal
Mexico became the first nation to score 200 goals at the CONCACAF Gold Cup on their way to reaching the semi-finals and staying on course for a 13th title.
Meanwhile, at 16 years and 257 days old, Gilberto Mora became El Tri's youngest ever player, and the youngest to appear in a match at the tournament since Canada's Alphonso Davies in 2017.
Their semi-final opponents will be Honduras, who are through to the last four for the first time since 2013.
Although Panama bowed out, Diaz became his nation's joint-leading scorer in the history of the tournament, matching Blas Perez's tally of 11 goals.
