Mexico overcomes 2-goal deficit to reach CONCACAF Nations League semifinals with USA, Canada, Panama

Mexico overcame a two-goal first-leg deficit to reach the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals with a 4-0 win over Honduras in Toluca on Tuesday night behind two goals from Henry Martín and one each from Raúl Jiménez and Jorge Sánchez.

With the 4-2 aggregate victory in the quarterfinals, Mexico advanced to face Canada on March 20 in Inglewood, California. Three-time defending champion USA faces Panama in the first game of the semifinal doubleheader.

In Toronto, Jonathan David got his record 31st goal for Canada and Jacob Shaffelburg scored twice in a 3-0 win over Suriname for a 4-0 aggregate win.

With Mexico coming from a 2-0 loss in the first leg on Friday in San Pedro Sula, Jiménez started the comeback in the 42nd minute when he scored from Jesús Orozco’s cross for his 35th international goal.

Martín leveled the aggregate in the 72nd after Jiménez headed Alexis Vega’s corner across the goalmouth. Sánchez scored in the 85th, deflecting Vega’s cross and putting a right-footed shot over goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar from 7 yards.

Martín converted a penalty kick in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time for his 11th international goal after Kervin Arriaga was called for tripping Martín near the top of the penalty area by Canadian referee Drew Fischer.

In Canada, David put the hosts ahead in the 23rd minute after attempting to clear from a corner that was deflected back to him by Shaffelburg. With his fourth goal in six games, David moved past Cyle Latin for Canada’s career scoring lead.

Shaffelburg beat goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen to a long ball from Moïse Bombito in the 30th, rounded the keeper and scored into an empty net. Shaffelburg scored from a Larin cross in the 67th minute, his sixth international goal.

Larin struck a cross in the 80th minute, prompting a premature fireworks celebration in the stadium, and Larin fell over in disbelief.

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