Mexico beats Panama in thrilling Gold Cup final

Sports
Mexico players celebrate after scoring a goal against Panama in the Gold Cup final.

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Santiago Gimenez came off the bench to score a stellar late goal as Mexico beat Panama 1-0 to win the Gold Cup at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

A well-drilled Panama team proved a tough out for Mexico and interim manager Jaime Lozano, but Gimenez came off the bench and turned the game on its head just before full-time with a lovely individual goal.

Mexico had 14 shots in the first half, the most in the first half of a knockout stage Gold Cup match over the last six editions of the tournaments, but could not find a breakthrough against Panama.

With time running out, Gimenez picked up the ball at midfield, beat his defender and held off another before firing past Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera to send the sold out crowd dominated by Mexico fans into euphoria.

The win gives Mexico its ninth Gold Cup trophy, two more all time than the United States in the history of the tournament.