ARLINGTON, Texas — The Mexican men's national team (El Tri) dominated Panama in their Concacaf Nations League semifinal match, securing a 3-0 clean sheet.
With the win, Mexico advances to the Concacaf Nations League Final on Sunday against the United States, who narrowly avoided an upset by Jamaica earlier in the day.
Mexico and Panama have been very familiar foes as of late, as El Tri defeated the Canaleros 1-0 in the 2023 Concacaf Nations League Third Place match, as well as a 1-0 victory in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Final. The two sides met for the third time in the last 12 months.
AT&T Stadium has served as an American fortress for "El Tri," hosting numerous friendlies over the years and a boasting fanbase in Texas. Mexico's semi-final match against Panama marked the team's 13th appearance in AT&T Stadium since 2009 (five when it was called Cowboys Stadium).
Edson Álvarez opened up the scoring for Mexico, heading home a cross of a free kick in the 40th minute. Minutes later, Julián Quiñones scored his first goal for the Mexican national team to double the El Tri lead.
Orbelín Pineda put the match to rest on a breakaway goal, lofting a shot over the goalkeeper's head and celebrating with a backflip.
With Thursday's win, El Tri improved to a 9-2-2 (win, loss, draw) record at Jerry World.
Mexico will face the United States on Sunday, March 24 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Here is a look at the highlights for Thursday's match:
2nd half: Mexico 3, Panama 0
90': Goal scored by Panama called back after VAR review.
83': Kahiser Lenis (Panama) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
82': Iván Anderson (Panama) header from the center of the box is blocked.
79': Substitution, Panama. Iván Anderson replaces José Fajardo. Kahiser Lenis replaces José Córdoba.
77': Substitution, Mexico. Luis Romo replaces Edson Álvarez. Jesús Orozco replaces Johan Vásquez because of an injury.
74': Hirving Lozano (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal.
68': Substitution, Panama. Cristian Martínez replaces Aníbal Godoy. Cecilio Waterman replaces Ismael Díaz.
66': Goal Mexico. Orbelín Pineda (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box to the center of the goal.
64': Hirving Lozano (Mexico) right footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
61': Ismael Díaz (Panama) header from the right side of the six-yard box is high and wide to the right.
59': Substitution, Mexico. Hirving Lozano replaces Julián Quiñones. Orbelín Pineda replaces Érick Sánchez. Érick Aguirre replaces Julián Araujo.
57': Puma Rodríguez (Panama) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal.
53': Éric Davis (Panama) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
51': Ismael Díaz (Panama) header from the center of the box is saved in the center of the goal.
51': José Fajardo (Panama) left footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the center of the goal.
48': Ismael Díaz (Panama) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
46': Second half starts.
Halftime: Mexico 2, Panama 0
Stats:
- Possession: Mexico 58.1%, Panama 41.9%
- Shots (on goal): Mexico 3(3), Panama 7(2)
- Corner kicks: Mexico 2, Panama 5
- Saves: Mexico 2, Panama 1
- Yellow cards: Mexico 0, Panama 0
- Red cards: Mexico 0, Panama 0
1st half: Mexico 2, Panama 0
45' + 5: First half ends. Mexico leads, 2-0.
43': Goal Mexico. Julián Quiñones (Mexico) right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Henry Martín. Goal awarded following VAR Review.
40': Goal Mexico. Edson Álvarez (Mexico) header from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner.
38': Fidel Escobar (Panama) right footed shot from outside the box following a corner.
32': Puma Rodríguez (Panama) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
22': Aníbal Godoy (Panama) right footed shot from the center of the box misses to the right.
19': José Fajardo (Panama) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
17': Substitution, Panama. Éric Davis replaces Yoel Bárcenas because of an injury.
9': Edson Álvarez (Mexico) header from the center of the box is saved.
1': Match has started.
Pregame
Starting XI is released:
Mexico vs. Panama: Tale of the tape
- Mexico record vs. Panama all-time: 21-2-6 (W-L-D)
- Mexico record all-time in the Concacaf Nations League: 8-3-3 (W-L-D)
- Top scorers for Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League: José Macías (3), Uriel Antuna (2), Hirving Lozano (2), Raúl Jiménez (2), Edson Álvarez (2)
- Top scorers for Panama in the Concacaf Nations League: Édgar Bárcenas (4), José Fajardo (4), Gabriel Torres (3), Cecilio Waterman (3), Éric Davis (2), Adalberto Carrasquilla (2), José Rodríguez (2)
Mexico vs. Panama: How to watch
- English: Paramount+
- Spanish: Univision
Mexico vs. Panama: A look at the rosters
Mexico
Goalkeepers
- Luis Malagón (Club América)
- Guillermo Ochoa (Salernitana)
- Julio González (Pumas)
Defenders
- Johan Vásquez (Genoa)
- Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey)
- César Montes (Almeria)
- Gerardo Arteaga (Monterrey)
- Julián Araujo (Las Palmas)
- Jorge Sánchez (FC Porto)
- Jesus Orozco (Chivas)
- Erick Aguirre (Monterrey)
Midfielders
- Edson Álvarez (West Ham)
- Luis Chávez (Dinamo Moscow)
- Roberto Alvarado (Chivas)
- Luis Romo (Monterrey)
- Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens)
- Érick Sánchez (Pachuca)
- Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul)
Forwards
- Henry Martín (Club América)
- Julian Quiñones (Club América)
- Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord)
- Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven)
- Uriel Antuna (Cruz Azul)
Panama
Goalkeepers
- Luis Meja (Nacional)
- Cesar Samudio (CD Marathon)
- Orlando Mosquera (Maccabi Tel Aviv FC)
Defenders
- Cesar Blackman (SK Slovian Bratislava)
- Jose Cordoba (PFC Levski Sofia)
- Fidel Escobar (Deportivo Saprissa)
- Jiovany Ramos (Alianza Lima)
- Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz FC)
- Eric Davis (MFK Kosice)
- Ivan Anderson (Fortaleza Ceif)
Midfielders
- Abdiel Ayarza (Cienciano)
- Christian Martinez (Al Jandial)
- Jose Rodriguez (FC Famalicao)
- Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo)
- Edgar Barcenas (Mazatlan FC)
- Andres Andrade (Lask Linz)
- Alberto Quintero (CD Plaza Amador)
- Anibal Godoy (Nashville SC)
Forwards
- Alfredo Stephens (Hapoel Kiryat Shmonia)
- Ismael (Universidad Católica del Ecuador)
- Jose Fajardo (Universidad Católica del Ecuador)
- Cecilio Waterman (Alianza Lima)
- Kahiser Lewis (Jaguares FC)
Mexico vs. Panama: Players to watch
Mexico
- Edson Álvarez: Scored one of Mexico's two goals against Honduras in the quarter-finals. The midfielder was the leading player in passes (165) in the series against Honduras.
- Hirving Lozano: Had the most shots (8) in the quarter-finals. He has scored two goals in the CNL in 2019/20 against Bermuda and 2022/23 against Jamaica.
- Santiago Giménez: Provided an assist in the 2-0 victory against Honduras in the quarter-finals of the CNL 2023/24. Scored the goal that gave Mexico the title in the 2023 Gold Cup final against Panama (1-0).
Panama
- José Fajardo: Scored a goal in both of Panama's victories in the quarter-finals against Costa Rica. He is the team's top scorer in the CNL 2023-24 with (3) and the player with the most shots with (7).
- Adalberto Carrasquilla: Scored 1 goal and provided 1 assist in his 4 appearances in League A. Winner of the Golden Ball Award in the 2023 Gold Cup, he provided assists in both quarter-final matches against Costa Rica. Carrasquilla has three assists.
- Orlando Mosquera: Thanks to his 5 saves in the quarter-finals against Costa Rica, Panama managed to advance. He participated in 2 out of the 4 matches in League A 2023/24 and kept a clean sheet in the 3-0 victory against Guatemala in the final of Group A.
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