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Raul Jimenez emerged as a national hero for Mexico, netting a goal that secured their spot in the Gold Cup final for the fourth consecutive time after defeating Honduras 1-0 at Levi’s Stadium.
Jimenez found the net in the 50th minute, putting Mexico on a collision course with the United States—the eighth time these two teams will face each other in a high-stakes matchup.
In a tense first half, Marcel Lewis came closest to scoring for Mexico, but his shot was expertly saved by Edrik Menziber.
Five minutes into the second half, however, Jimenez broke the stalemate with a precise shot into the left corner, assisted by promising young talent Gilberto Mora.
Just 262 days ago, at the age of 16, Mora became the youngest player to provide an assist in the Gold Cup since 2013.
Edson Alvarado had a goal disallowed for offside shortly after, but Honduras never posed a significant threat, allowing Mexico to secure a comfortable win.
Mora is the future!
Presented by @valvolin pic.twitter.com/i0akb3bcwk
– Gold Cup (@goldcup) July 3, 2025
Insight: Defense Wins Championships
Once again, Jimenez has solidified his status as a Mexican hero by scoring the sole goal in a 1-0 win, marking his contribution to the National Team’s sixth Gold Cup (2019, 2023 against Trinidad and Tobago).
With this victory, Mexico reached its 12th Gold Cup final, trailing only the United States, which has made it 13 times—after Guatemala fell to them in the other semifinal.
Manager Javier Aguirre (2009, 2025) is now only the second coach to lead Mexico to multiple Gold Cup finals, joining Geraldo Martino, who did so in 2019 and 2021.
Mexico has kept a clean sheet in all five knockout rounds of the Gold Cup and will strive for excellence in the final, aiming to match their longest competitive winning streak from 1993 to 1998.
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This news is significant for soccer fans as it highlights Mexico’s resilience and prowess on the continental stage, particularly with a new generation of talent like Gilberto Mora. The anticipation of the upcoming final against the US not only adds excitement but also encapsulates the growing intensity of rivalry in North American soccer.
