Mexico routs Honduras to reach CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals

Mexico scored three goals in a 12-minute span of the first half to defeat Honduras 3-0 in a quarterfinal match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday at Glendale, Ariz.

Rogelio Funes Mori made it 1-0 in the 26th minute, and Jonathan dos Santos (31st) and Orbelin Pineda (38th) put the game out of reach before halftime.

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Mexico, the defending champion from 2019 and an eight-time winner in the previous 15 Gold Cups, will play in a semifinal on Thursday against the winner of the match Sunday between Costa Rica and Canada.

In the other quarterfinal Sunday, the U.S. plays Jamaica for the right to face Qatar, a 3-2 winner Saturday over El Salvador.

The Mexicans simply overwhelmed their short-handed opponent. Alberth Elis, Michaell Chirinos did not play for Honduras because of injuries.

Also, Honduras had a COVID-19 outbreak that cost the team the services of players Edwin Solano and Carlos Fernandez and coach Fabian Coito, who was replaced on the sideline by assistant coach Arnold Cruz.

Funes Mori scored his third goal of the tournament six minutes after he had a goal disallowed for being offside. He made sure the second attempt counted. Luis Rodriguez sent a cross from the right flank to the middle of the box that Funes Mori headed off the far post.

Mexico kept pressing, and a turnover led to a poor clearance that dos Santos capitalized on with a strike from outside the penalty area to make it 2-0.

Another giveaway resulted in the third goal as Pineda put a powerful header to the bottom right corner after a service by Jesus Corona.

Mexico goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera protected the three-goal lead in the 53rd minute with save at the right post on Jerry Bengtson.

Talavera made two saves and has not allowed a goal in the four tournament games and seven straight games overall. Luis Lopez had two saves for Honduras.