HOUSTON — The U.S. men’s national team stumbled to a 2-1 loss to Mexico on Sunday in 2025’s Gold Cup remaining, cementing back-to-back titles for his or her southern rivals that earned victory due to a game-winner from Edson Álvarez.
Held at a sold-out NRG Stadium with a majority Mexico crowd, the championship match initially started with the USMNT hitting the bottom working through a fourth minute set-piece aim from Chris Richards off a cross from Sebastian Berhalter.
In response, Mexico elevated their attacking stress, ultimately equalizing due to a robust shot from Raúl Jiménez within the twenty seventh minute. Regardless of the continued attacking momentum from El Tri, the U.S. then practically took again the lead with an Alex Freeman header that was saved by Mexico goalkeeper Ángel Malagón shortly earlier than halftime.
U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino, keen to show again the tide after the halfway break, then altered his strategy to a two-man ahead line with the introduction of Damion Downs within the 69th minute. Nonetheless, it was Mexico who stole the game-winner from Alvarez within the 78th minute, securing a tenth Gold Cup trophy.
Following the loss for the USMNT, who used an alternate squad this summer season that was lacking key gamers, listed here are three speaking factors:
1. Sloppy possessions permit first U.S. title below Pochettino slip away
Time and time once more within the coronary heart of the pitch in opposition to a urgent Mexico aspect, the U.S. gamers discovered themselves both lofting inaccurate passes ahead or being a step behind advancing opposing defenders.
If there was a weak hyperlink in Pochettino’s tactical setup on Sunday, it was precisely these moments that allowed Mexico to simply win again the ball and preserve the People on their toes, resulting in Jimenez’s first half equalizer and Alvarez’s game-winner within the second half.
To be honest to Pochettino, with such an early lead within the recreation, most managers would additionally select to take fewer dangers in possession and get the ball out as rapidly as potential. With the addition of Downs, there additionally appeared to be an effort to attempt a distinct strategy that garnered extra management of the ball, albeit with solely three pictures within the remaining 45 minutes.
Both approach, Mexico had been more than pleased to persistently get well the ball in harmful areas of the sphere, creating pathways all through the match that led to their win.
2. Alvarez captains Mexico to tenth Gold Cup title
An enormous quantity of credit score is because of Alvarez. With out relaxation this summer season, the West Ham midfielder began in each recreation for Mexico on the Gold Cup, commanding the guts of the squad and in addition shifting again into the protection as wanted.
Repeatedly doing a lot of the soiled work wanted in his personal half of the pitch, Alvarez does not get the identical plaudits {that a} harmful ahead like Raul Jimenez does, or the hype of an up-and-coming participant like 16-year-old Gilberto Mora that appears to be the subsequent huge star.
However that wasn’t the case on Sunday. Though an preliminary offside name appeared to rule out Alvarez’s headed shot into the again of the web, a dramatic wait and choice from VAR confirmed the captain’s efforts, who completed the match with two targets and an help.
With an ideal begin to the Gold Cup via Mexico’s first aim within the match, it was then a becoming state of affairs by which he would later safe simply as excellent of an ending with the title-winning aim on Sunday.
3. USMNT struggles once more Gold Cup remaining assembly vs. Mexican rivals
There isn’t any doubt that the U.S.-Mexico rivalry is not as one-sided because it as soon as was within the twentieth century. With the expansion of American soccer on the membership and nationwide staff degree, the U.S. has frequently been capable of go toe-to-toe within the trendy period, as soon as incomes a seven-game undefeated streak as just lately as final 12 months.
The Gold Cup, nonetheless, tells a distinct story.
Sunday’s match marked the eighth time that the 2 worldwide neighbors met within the match’s remaining, and of these clashes, Mexico have now received six of these conferences, whereas the USMNT have solely two.
Pochettino’s summer season squad was an alternate one that does not have a protracted record of stars that embrace Christian Pulisic, Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, and Weston McKennie, amongst others. The identical could not be stated in March, although, when a stronger U.S. roster was unable to win the 2024-25 Nations League after dropping to Panama within the semifinals, after which Canada within the third place match.
The winners of that drama Nations League? That was Mexico, who now have gained much more bragging rights over their rivals.