GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Mexico overcame Honduras 1-0 on Thursday in the Gold Cup quarterfinal in University of Phoenix Stadium and will face Jamaica in Sunday's semifinal. Here are three takes from the match:
El Tri flashes teeth in improved display
Mexico's experimental squad is never going to be the finished article at this Gold Cup, no matter where it goes. It was hastily put together from the leftovers of the Confederations Cup squad and has had comparatively little time to train under coach Juan Carlos Osorio. But there were signs of improvement Thursday after a sluggish group stage.
Rodolfo Pizarro netted the only goal in the fourth minute, tapping in from close range, with Jesus Duenas providing the assist. From there, Mexico controlled the game but couldn't find a goal to kill the match, wasting a number of good chances to break open Honduras' defense.
Honduras forced a fine save from Jesus Corona direct from a corner in the 78th and had a couple of long shots, but it didn't truly threaten until Mexico nervously sat back and held onto the 1-0 lead in the dying minutes. Alfredo Mejia almost stole a late equalizer with a curling effort from the edge of the box in second-half stoppage time.
Mexico will need more goal threats moving forward, but there were positive signs Thursday. The importance of winning by any means was also heightened because of the pressure Osorio has been under and the fact Mexico had lost 7-0 and 4-1 in the previous two direct knockout rounds El Tri has played under the Colombian.
This was far from perfect, but for the first time in the Gold Cup, El Tri showed enough to suggest it can win the trophy.
Mexico's not-so-young Gold Cup team taking shape
There has been a perception that this Mexico squad is very young. In fact, the average starting 11 on Thursday was 26.7 years, and only four of the starters were under 26. However, those young players -- Orbelin Pineda, Edson Alvarez, Pizarro and Jesus Gallardo -- were all good, showing for the first time in this Gold Cup why Osorio believes they have the ability to push for a place on the full national-team squad sooner rather than later.
Pineda -- playing on the left wing instead of his more normal central position -- gave glimpses of genuine quality, while Gallardo is settling into a left-back role. Pizarro and Alvarez will also win a lot of caps for this Mexico national team before their careers are over.
It wasn't just the youngsters, though. The team Osorio put out was more balanced than we have so far seen this Gold Cup. The Colombian is also starting to show a degree of flexibility in his selections. For example, there was only one left-footed player on the field for Mexico -- Gallardo -- with the center-back partnership of Hugo Ayala and Jair Pereira experienced and secure.
Up front, Angel Sepulveda was selected ahead of Erick "Cubo" Torres, and it worked. Sepulveda doesn't provide as much of a goal threat, but his movement was strong and allowed Mexico's other attacking players space to operate.
Jesus Molina's second-half injury will be of concern; the Monterrey player was crucial in breaking up Honduras' rare attacks. He provides steel in the defensive midfield role.
On Thursday, we saw the base of Mexico's experienced players -- such as Corona, Ayala, Pereira, Molina and Duenas -- provide the solid base for the youngsters to shine. It bodes well moving forward in the competition.
Goal-less Honduras crash out
The Honduran side Jorge Luis Pinto has put together produced a poor display against Mexico, at least until the last 15 minutes. Los Catrachos exited the Gold Cup having failed to score a goal in 360 minutes, advancing to the quarters due to French Guiana fielding an ineligible player, Florent Malouda. Honduras is now without a victory in nine matches.
With Honduras down in fifth position in the Hexagonal World Cup 2018 qualifying table, things aren't going well for Pinto in charge of the Central American team.
The defensive display and 5-4-1 formation -- in the first 45 minutes -- against Mexico didn't work because Osorio's flexible formation up front negated the need for Honduras to play with three center backs. And any side that sits back so deeply needs to show more than Honduras did up front.
Osorio might have been the one receiving criticism from the domestic press ahead of the game, but Pinto's position as Honduras coach will be questioned now.
Pinto worked wonders with Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup, but so far he has failed to do the same with Honduras.