Neither a heavenly deluge nor the initial scare could stop the “kids” of the Mexico U-20 National Team. After a delay due to an electrical storm that left the Banorte Stadium (Azteca) in suspense, the national team came out on top, turned the tables and defeated Canada 2-1.
With this triumph, those led by Alex Diego not only reached the final of the Concacaf World Cup, but also stamped their passport for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games once and for all.
Now comes the main course: defining the title of the contest against the staunch rival, the United States. However, no matter what happens on Sunday, the reality is that this team has already delivered on a high note. They walk undefeated, they play tasty and they carry a litter of youngsters who have a personality that excites anyone.
A great goal that stung the Aztec pride
The procedure was not smooth sailing. Alex Diego's team has gone from strength to strength in the tournament, learning to scrape the knee when the potatoes burn. And boy did they burn early. At the dawn of the match, the maple leaf squad dealt a real slap in the face to Mexican pride with a stroke of genius.
Owen Graham-Roache invented a crack “little hat” and, without letting the segments fall, he hit a devilish volley that embedded itself in the right corner of the Mexican goal. A goal poem!
The blow hit deep. Mexico had to appeal to the top hat and mischief of Santiago Sandoval and Hugo Camberos to shake off the inattention. Both extremes began to create a carnival on the right wing, sending poisonous crosses to Gamboa and Valenzuela, who were on the wrong side in the first half.
With the ball on the tricolor side, Canadian desperation did not take long to appear: they began to dirty the game with fouls of all colors in the midfield.
Despite the Aztec harassment of almost half an hour, the guest of honor resisted before the break. It was the first time in the entire World Cup that Mexico went to the locker room in white. To make matters worse, bad fortune took its toll with two early injuries: first, Canadian Antone Bossenberry lasted barely a minute on the court, and at 8', national goalkeeper Cristo Navarrete had to ask for his replacement in tears.
Locker room reaction and the Colossus exploded
For the complementary part, El Tri came out with the knife between their teeth and paid them in the same coin: a locker room goal. Valenzuela received in the area, fought between the center backs to turn around and shot; The goalkeeper blocked, but the North American defense was lukewarm. Attentive to the appointment, the newly admitted Cristóbal Alfaro arrived like a car from behind to push the ball into the back of the net.
The Azteca wanted to fall from excitement. With parity, the team grew to the punishment, although they forgave the second almost immediately when Diego Ramírez sent it through the clouds being completely alone in front of the goal, after a play between Camberos and Sandoval.
Red card and comeback with top scorer stamp
Fate had a nightmare in store for Liam MacKenzie, who had been the workhorse of the Canadians. At minute 70, the North American earned the red card after slapping Echilvestre in the face. With ten men on top, the night completely fell on Canada.
Mexico smelled blood and went all out. At 76', Sandoval entered the right sector and reached the baseline. Being a natural left-hander, there was no chance of shooting, but his marker was innocent and tripped him flagrantly.
Very clear penalty! Hugo Camberos took the ball with ice in his veins and exchanged it for a goal with an impeccable collection. It was his fifth goal of the tournament, a score that puts him with a foot and a half as the top scorer of the competition and that completes the Olympic somersault.
The epilogue of the game was a true tricolor ride, passing the ball at will in front of some completely deranged maple leaf players. With the tickets to the World Cup and the Olympic Games already in the bag, El Tri only has the icing on the cake: going to the Stars and Stripes next Sunday to lift the Concacaf U-20 crown. Let the United States come!
