Henry Martin’s goal just after halftime sent Mexico on its way to a 3-1 win over Haiti on Thursday in Group B play at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Glendale, Ariz.
With the result, Mexico (2-0-0, 6 points) clinched a spot in the quarterfinals ahead of its final group game against Qatar on Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif. Haiti (1-1-0, 3 points) would earn a quarterfinal berth if it can defeat Honduras on Sunday in Charlotte.
Following a scoreless first half, Mexico needed just 45 seconds in the second half to jump on top. Uriel Antuna fired a cross to the top of the 6-yard box, and Martin powered in a header to put Mexico on top.
An own goal by Haiti’s Ricardo Ade in the 56th minute doubled the lead before Haiti’s Danley Jean Jacques scored on a header off a Derrick Etienne corner kick in the 78th minute.
Santiago Gimenez gave Mexico a safe margin by capping an impressive team move by sliding to tap in a pass from Antuna.
Honduras 1, Qatar 1
Alberth Elis scored with moments remaining in second-half stoppage time, lifting Honduras to a draw with Qatar in a CONCACAF Gold Cup Group B game on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz.
Qatar had led since Tameem Mansour headed in a goal in the seventh minute.
The result keeps Qatar (0-1-1, 1 point) and Honduras (0-1-1, 1 point) winless through their first two matches.
Qatar was seconds away from a win before a set piece allowed Mansour to deliver a high ball from the left side to near the penalty spot. Rubilio Castillo nodded the ball down, and Elis made an acrobatic move to knock a right-footed shot over Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.
In the key moment of the first half, Moustafa Tarek drove down the left flank with the ball and centered a pass to the middle of the penalty area, where Mansour headed it past Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar.
Barsham made three saves, while Menjivar was credited with two saves.
–Field Level Media