Mexico turned around a two-goal deficit from the first leg, securing a commanding 4-0 victory over Honduras in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals in Toluca on Tuesday night. The win, fueled by two goals from Henry Martín and one each from Raúl Jiménez and Jorge Sánchez, allowed Mexico to advance with a 4-2 aggregate score.
With this victory, Mexico will face Canada in the semifinals on March 20 in Inglewood, California. The United States, the three-time defending champions, will take on Panama in the other semifinal match.
In Toronto, Canada also progressed, with Jonathan David scoring his record-setting 31st international goal and Jacob Shaffelburg netting two in a 3-0 win over Suriname, resulting in a 4-0 aggregate victory.
After falling 2-0 in the first leg in San Pedro Sula, Mexico began its comeback in the 42nd minute when Jiménez converted a cross from Jesús Orozco, marking his 35th international goal. Martín equalized the aggregate score in the 72nd minute, capitalizing on a header from Jiménez after a corner kick taken by Alexis Vega. Sánchez extended Mexico’s lead in the 85th minute, chesting down a cross from Vega and firing a shot over goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar from seven yards out. Martín sealed the victory with a penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time, awarded after Kervin Arriaga tripped him near the penalty area.
In Canada, David opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, taking advantage of a rebound from a corner kick. This goal marked his fourth in six games, propelling him past Cyle Larin as Canada’s all-time leading scorer. Shaffelburg added to the tally in the 30th minute, beating goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen to a long ball from Moïse Bombito, rounding the keeper, and finishing into an empty net. He scored again in the 67th minute, assisted by Larin, bringing his international goal total to six.
Larin nearly added to the scoreline in the 80th minute when his shot hit the post, leading to a premature fireworks celebration in the stadium and leaving him in disbelief.
Related topics
- Where Is Soccer Aid Held
- Where Are Adidas Soccer Jerseys Made
- Men’s Soccer Advances to Sweet 16 with 3-0 Win
