GUADALAJARA, Mexico – A late first-half strike from Uriel Antuna powered Mexico to a 1-0 victory over long-time rivals the United States to close out Group A of the 2020 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying championship on Wednesday night at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.
With the win, El Tricolor finish atop the group with nine points, while the U.S. complete their group stage campaign in second place with six points.
The first half was largely a case of the two sides feeling each other out until the final minute of the half when a U.S. error led to the Mexico score.
A wayward pass from U.S. FW Sebastian Soto was intercepted by Antuna and the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner fired in his second goal of the tournament to give Mexico a 1-0 lead in the 45’. The U.S. tried to respond and Sebastian Saucedo had a good look at goal in the 58’, only to see his shot bounce wide.
Mexico were keen to find a second goal to put the U.S. in a deeper hole and looked set to do it through Jose Juan Macias, but the Chivas man failed to connect cleanly in front of goal. The U.S. were beginning to find space in the Mexico half and managed to put some pressure on Mexico GK Sebastian Jurado, but in the closing stages Mexico were able to regain control and they saw out the final quarter-hour with aplomb to seal the three points and top spot in the group. (CONCACAF)