Mexico 4-0 Honduras (19 Nov 2024) Match Analysis

A brace off Club America forward Henrik Martin carried Mexico for a comeback 4-2 overall victory over Honduras in the knockout round of Concacaf Nations League.

Down 2-0 in the first leg after last Friday’s away game, Mexico started Tuesday’s second leg in Toluca with immediate attacking pressure against Honduras’ back line.

In a first half that included 14 shots, El Tri constantly threw numbers forward and regularly tested the opposition goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar. In response, Honduras did well to soak up the pressure and gradually wear down the home side, who were beginning to look frustrated.

Then a momentum-changing strike arrived from Raul Jimenez late in the first half.

After a deep run from Chiva left-back Jesus Orozco Chiquete led to a low cross from the central defender, Jimenez quickly stuck out his boot to meet the ball that ricocheted into the Honduras net in the 42nd minute.

After the break, El Tri continued to look proactive with their attacking approach.

Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images

---

Mexico further bolstered its front line with two out-and-out strikers on the field thanks to the additions in the 66th minute of Cesar Huerta, Jorge Sanchezand Martin from the bench. The investment paid off for head coach Javier Aguirre, who quickly took a 2-0 lead in the second half.

Moments after a cross from a corner Alexis Vega in the 72nd minute, Jimenez deflected the ball slightly and set up Martin with a close-range shot that doubled El Tri’s lead.

After leveling the quarter-final series, Mexico’s confidence changed, allowing them to add more goals to the scoresheet.

Vega, with plenty of time in the 85th minute to look for opportunities in the final third, fed a pass to Sanchez, who then fired a shot past Menjivar to make it 3-2.

Then, in the 97th minute, Martin would cement their dominant home performance with a goal from the penalty spot to make it 4-2 at the final whistle.

With the result in hand, Mexico and Aguirre have advanced to the semifinal round of the Nations League and qualified for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. Honduras will have another chance to qualify for the Gold Cup through a preliminary competition.

In the first quarter-final on Friday, Aguirre was hit in the head with a beer can at Honduras’ Estadio Francisco Morazan. Concacaf responded to the incident by handing Honduras a one-match suspension and fine, while opening a separate investigation into the conduct of Mexico’s coach during the match.

Aguirre brushed off the can-throwing incident that left him bleeding profusely from the head.