Mexico won the CONCACAF pre-Olympic tournament at home on Tuesday night. They will represent Central America at the Olympic Games, just like Honduras, finalist and surprise winner over the United States in the semi-finals.
As a matter of course. The Mexicans were a cut above their opponents throughout the competition, and were the logical winners of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Jaime Lozano's men had a masterful time in the group stage, and then beat Canada in the semi-finals.
Once again without struggling, "El Tri" defeated Canada on Sunday (2-0). In the city of his club, Guadalajara, the player of Chivas Uriel Antuna felt like at home. Already a two-time scorer in the first round, the attacking midfielder who passed through the Maurice Revello Tournament 2018 did it again against Canada.
Antuna and Macias shine, Honduras trap USA
The surprise came from the other semi-final. Co-favorites of the competition with Mexico, the United States fell into the trap of Honduras (1-2). Two goals down after 47 minutes and despite a reduction of the gap in the second half, the Americans were unable to make up the deficit. A terrible failure for Team USA, which misses a qualification for the Olympics for the third consecutive time. A confirmation on the other hand of the progress of Honduras, which will play the Olympics for the fourth time in a row.
Qualified for Tokyo, Mexicans and Hondurans were fighting for the title and the honor in final. And with this goal in mind, it is the first named who came out victorious. However, nothing was simple because Sebastian Cordova and his teammates were dragged into extra time by Honduras, who even took the lead with twenty minutes to go. But a penalty kick by Juan Macias, who passed through the Tournament in 2019, helped Mexico to come back at the end of the game. Before finally winning on penalties without missing a single one shot (1-1, 5-4 tab).
Both teams will meet in Japan in July for the Olympic Games. Mexico to imitate Marco Fabian, Hector Herrera, Diego Reyes and others, gold medal winners in London in 2012. Honduras, why not to equal or do better than the beautiful fourth place won in 2016 in Rio.
Mathieu Lauricella