CONCACAF Gold Cup: Mexico open title defence with 3-2 win over Dominican Republic

Mexico kicked off its quest for a 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup title with a tense 3-2 victory over the Dominican Republic on Saturday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

West Ham’s Edson Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 44th minute, followed by goals from striker Raul Jimenez in the 47th and defender Cesar Montes in the 53rd, giving Mexico a 3-0 cushion before the Dominicans mounted a late fightback.

Backed by a crowd of 54,309 - largely pro-Mexico - El Tri began their title defence on a winning note. Mexico is the most decorated team in Gold Cup history, having secured their ninth title in 2023.


Jimenez’s goal marked his 40th for the national team, moving him within six of Jared Borgetti for second place on Mexico’s all-time scoring chart. Javier Hernandez remains the leader with 52 goals.

“It was a good win to start with. I congratulate my team, who maintained their emotional balance. It was a hard-fought, but fair victory," said Mexico coach Javier Aguirre.

With the win, Mexico tops Group A with three points, while the Dominican Republic sits at the bottom with none. The group's other two teams, Costa Rica and Suriname, are set to clash on Sunday at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, with both aiming to keep pace in the early stages of the tournament.

“We were patient, we scored three goals and it was an attractive match for the fans, although there are things that need to be corrected,” Aguirre added.

Peter Gonzalez scored in the 51st minute and Edison Ascona added another in the 67th for the Dominican Republic, marking a spirited effort in their first-ever Gold Cup appearance.

Mexico will look to secure a spot in the knockout stage next Wednesday when they face Suriname, while the Dominican Republic will take on Costa Rica. Both Group A matches will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.