PHILADELPHIA -- Mexico lifted the Gold Cup on Sunday, after defeating Jamaica 3-1 in front of 68,930 in Lincoln Financial Field.
It was El Tri's seventh Gold Cup title, and the win sets up an October meeting with the United States to decide which side will represent CONCACAF at the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.
1. Herrera gets it spot on in the final
With heavy pressure on his job coming into Sunday's Gold Cup final, things couldn't have gone better for Mexico coach Miguel Herrera. All his major selection decisions worked out.
The suspended Carlos Vela was replaced in the starting XI by Jesus "Tecatito" Corona, who netted Mexico's second, robbing Michael Hector of the ball in the center of midfield, driving toward goal and steering his shot inside the post. Corona showed why many were clamoring for him to get more minutes earlier this tournament, considering he was one of the brightest young talents in the Eredivisie last season with Twente.
Then there was the decision to drop Hector Herrera and hand a Gold Cup debut to Jesus Duenas, a huge decision considering that the Porto player has probably been Mexico's best player over the past 12 months. But Duenas responded in style, adding more backbone to Mexico's midfield and linking up better with right wing-back Paul Aguilar than Herrera has all tournament.
Herrera's decision to take a risk and field Andres Guardado and Jonathan dos Santos, both of whom came into the game as serious injury doubts, also turned out well. El Tri withstood Jamaica's early attacks and turned the game around swiftly, producing by far its best performance of the tournament when it mattered.
There was cohesion, fluidity and, at last, an end product to go with the pretty passing and possession soccer. El Tri played like a Herrera side.
"El Piojo" had come out of the tunnel before the match ahead of the players and purposely, it seemed, walked onto the pitch and in front of the goal. He was greeted by cheers from the Mexico fans inside the stadium and raised his arm, clenching his fist in a show of confidence.
It seemed to set the tone, as Herrera's players showed on the field that they want him to continue. After all the talk, Mexico finally produced this Gold Cup victory and no one will be more relieved than Herrera, who had stressed that his side was "obligated" to win it.
2. Guardado plays captain's role
Guardado was by far Mexico's best player of the Gold Cup and was once again a massive presence for El Tri on Sunday. The PSV player produced a first-time finish of exquisite class from an Paul Aguilar cross to hand Mexico the lead, and it was only fitting that he should play such a major role in El Tri winning the tournament. The goal was his sixth of the competition, meaning he finished only one behind the Gold Cup's top scorer, Clint Dempsey.
Guardado had come into the game nursing an injury to his left ankle (which is likely why he was taken off in the 62nd minute) but the captain wanted to carry his team out and has emerged over these past few weeks as the team's undisputed leader. When Rafa Marquez finally retires, Guardado is ready to step up.
The 28-year-old Atlas youth team graduate spread the play well, won free kicks and generally showed little sign that he was carrying the injury. In other games, too, Guardado has been a huge influence. He netted a superb late effort against Trinidad & Tobago and held his nerve in slotting in penalties against Costa Rica and Panama, where others may have wilted.
This is the tournament in which Guardado has emerged as one of El Tri's key players.
3. Mexico still kings of CONCACAF
This has not been a pretty tournament for Mexico, and the refereeing decisions to gift El Tri's passage through the quarterfinal against Costa Rica and the semifinal versus Panama will likely overshadow this Gold Cup win for many.
The fact Mexico has managed to overcome only Cuba and Jamaica over 90 minutes and failed to defeat Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica or Panama points to a less-than-brilliant display. But ask any of the Mexico fans who have once again shown up in their droves to back El Tri in the United States if they care about the manner in which Mexico lifted the cup. They don't.
The bottom line is that El Tri now has seven Gold Cup titles while their arch-rival, the United States, which couldn't get past The Reggae Boyz in the semifinal, is stuck on five. And despite problems against teams in the region (Mexico has won only 10 of its past 28 games over 90 minutes against CONCACAF opposition), El Tri has won three of the past four Gold Cups.
Mexico got the job done and will face the United States in the Confederation Cup playoff on Oct. 9. It was mission accomplished for Herrera and his players, even if it was difficult to watch at times.