El Tri begins title defense with 3-2 victory as Álvarez, Jiménez, and Montes find the net

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México will face Suriname next WednesdayRaúl Jiménez reached 40 goals with Costa Rica is next for the Dominican Republic in Group A actionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE

Mexico kicked off their 2025 Gold Cup campaign with a 3-2 win over tournament debutants the Dominican Republic, as Javier Aguirre’s side looks to defend the title they won in 2023 and secure a record-extending 10th championship.

Goals from Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez, and César Montes lifted Mexico past a Dominican team that, despite being seen as heavy underdogs, caused plenty of problems – especially in the first half. Peter González and Edison Azcona scored for Marcelo Neveleff’s squad in what turned into a surprisingly competitive contest at SoFi Stadium.

Despite ’s perceived superiority on paper, it was the Caribbean side that created more danger early on. As Mexico struggled to find rhythm, the Dominican Republic began pushing forward. However, when the visitors were playing their best football, Edson Álvarez broke the deadlock with a powerful header off a corner kick in the 44th minute.

Mexico finished the first half strongly and came out even better in the second. Just two minutes after the restart, Raúl Jiménez doubled the lead with a well-executed team move initiated by Santiago Giménez.

The match appeared to tilt decisively in Mexico’s favor, but just four minutes later, Peter González pulled one back for the Dominicans with a well-placed shot that left goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón helpless. The response from Mexico was immediate – Álvarez once again rose for a header in the 51st minute, but this time the ball deflected off César Montes and into the net for the 3-1.

As the game opened up and Mexico looked poised to seal a comfortable win, the Dominican Republic struck again in the 67th minute. Edison Azcona’s effort took a deflection off Álvarez and found the back of the net, reducing the deficit to one and puttingunder pressure once more.

Mexico’s defense, already under scrutiny after conceding four goals to Switzerland and winning narrowly to Turkey in recent friendlies, looked vulnerable again. While Aguirre's side ultimately held on for the win, the performance raised more questions than answers ahead of tougher group-stage clashes.

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Aguirre has now won eight of his 13 matches in his current stint as head coach of the Mexican national team. Meanwhile, Raúl Jiménez reached 40 goals with El Tri, putting him just six behind Jared Borgetti (46) for second place on Mexico’s all-time scoring list. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández remains the national team’s top scorer with 52 goals.

THE MVP

Mexico delivered a lackluster and tense performance in their Gold Cup debut, narrowly edging out a modest Dominican Republic team that pushed for an equalizer until the final whistle. Despite the 3-2 victory, left more doubts than certainties on the pitch.

West Ham midfielder Álvarez was Mexico’s standout performer in a match full of ups and downs for Javier Aguirre’s side. Álvarez broke the deadlock late in the first half when Mexico was at its worst and later assisted in the build-up to the third goal, just minutes after the Dominicans had pulled one back to make it 2-1.

Following the substitution of Israel Reyes, Álvarez dropped into the center-back position, where he was unfortunately involved in the defensive sequence that led to the 3-2 goal by the Dominican Republic. Still, his impact on both ends of the field highlighted his importance to a Mexican team that showed clear structural vulnerabilities in its back line.

THE BIG LOSER

The 139th-ranked team in the world made Mexico sweat in their Gold Cup opener, exposing vulnerabilities in Aguirre’s squad and making it clear that El Tri must raise their level in the matches to come.

Whether Mexico underestimated their opponent or have simply declined in quality over the years, the performance left little to celebrate. The 54,309 fans in attendance at SoFi Stadium were left concerned – not just by the narrow scoreline, but by the sense that the days of dominant, stylish Mexican wins may be behind them. The gap between CONCACAF powers and so-called minnows appears to be closing fast.

Aguirre emerged as the biggest loser of the night, despite securing three points. His side ended the match defending deep, looking shaky, and far from the confident, attacking team fans once expected. The result did little to satisfy a Mexican fanbase hungry for convincing performances, not just wins.