Mexico vs Qatar
The 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup has moved on at some pace and, within a week of starting, Mexico have qualified for the knockout phase. When they face Qatar on Sunday, El Tri look set to dump Qatar out of the competition.
In Friday’s action, Mexico’s match with Haiti went to plan as Jaime Lozano’s team ran out with a 3-1 win, and after thrashing Honduras in their opener, that was enough to see them through.
In sharp contrast, Qatar have left themselves with a mountain to climb with just one point from two games, leaving them two points behind Haiti with one game to play.
This is the first time these two nations have met, and the pressure is all on Qatar manager Carlos Queiroz to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Otherwise, his team will be on an early flight home.
Talking Points
So far so good for Mexico
El Tri hammered Honduras 4-0 in their opening match with midfielder Luis Romo scoring a brace, and the team which has won the competition a record number of times looks determined to take on all comers again this year.
Mexico have been scoring for fun, banging in 15 goals in the last six games, and they have started with seven in two in this competition without the services of star striker Hirving Lozano. And they have been solid at the back too, conceding just one goal in the last three games.
Friday’s clash with Haiti was a chance for either to take control of the group after their both won their opener, but Mexico were far to good for the Haitians, though it took until the first minute of the second half before America striker Henry Martin dived in to head the opener.
Few minutes later, the game was pretty much over as Haiti’s Ricardo Ade turned a cross into his own net, and though the underdogs scored through Danley Jacques, 22-year-old striker Santiago Gimenez made it 3-1 with his third international goal.
The result means Mexico are through to the knockout phase, while Haiti must now beat Honduras to join El Tri.
Late lapses cost Qatar dearly
While Mexico’s CONCACAF 2023 Gold Cup results have been pretty much perfect, Qatar have rather thrown their chances away with late goals costing them three vital points.
Qatar’s opener against Haiti turned out to be a tough game and a 2-1 loss, so they were already under pressure when the came up against Honduras on Friday. The frustration of conceding a 97th minute winner against Haiti from Frantzdy Pierrot after Qatar had led when Yusuf Abdurisag scored in the 20th minute spilled over into their second game against Honduras.
This time, Queiroz watched his team concede an equaliser on 96 minutes. As tempers flared, Abdurisag was sent off on 98 along with Honduras’ Roman Castillo, and it would have been interesting to be in the Qatar dressing room after the game.
The result meant both teams have collected a single point after two games and each needs a miracle to progress. Qatar probably have the better chance, but they will have to improve dramatically to beat Mexico, and then hope Haiti slip up against Honduras.
Without Abdurisag, they have lost a cutting edge, and Queiroz must pull off a tactical masterpiece to beat El Tri, who are hard to break down and are in a rich vein of form in attack.
The principality of Qatar has shown it can put on a World Cup successfully. But soon they need to start showing their players can compete on the pitch.
History
This is a match between an established team in world football and a relative newcomer. Mexico are twice World Cup quarter-finalists and 11-time CONCACAF Gold Cup winners, and the latest CONCACAF 2023 Gold Cup betting odds make them favourites to make it 12.
Meanwhile, Qatar participated in their first World Cup as hosts last year, and they reached the Gold Cup semi-finals in 2021.
In terms of recent form, Qatar have won two from nine games in 2023, while Mexico have won four from eight and have lost only once.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP odds are backing a Mexico win, and I think El Tri will come through at a canter. At ninth in the FIFA World Rankings, the favourites are 42 places above Qatar. The underdogs are missing their main striker, so I think they will struggle to score.
Add to that the fact that Qatar have failed to keep a clean sheet in six matches,s I expect Mexico to win by two clear goals or more.
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