PARAMARIBO – Mexico sit atop Group A of League A of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League following a 2-0 victory over Suriname on Thursday night at the Frank Essed Stadion in Paramaribo.
El Tricolor are now two points of clear of second-place Jamaica and can clinch a spot in the CNL Finals with at least a draw in their group finale with the Reggae Boyz on Sunday.
With Thursday’s win, Mexico have also punched their ticket to the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, while Suriname are confirmed for the Gold Cup Prelims.
It was an exciting start with end-to-end football, including a Roberto Alvarado chance for Mexico in the 7’, while at the other end in the 19’ a left-footed rocket from Roscello Vlijter forced Mexico GK Carlos Acevedo into a stretch save to keep things scoreless.
There was also a chance for Suriname in the moments before halftime on another effort from distance, this time from Sheraldo Becker, who fired wide of the mark.
Mexico keep in search of the go-ahead goal and it would finally come midway through the second stanza in the 64’.
Carlos Rodriguez served up a free kick from the left wing and Johan Vasquez used the most delicate of touches to redirect the ball past Suriname GK Joey Roggeveen for a 1-0 Mexico lead.
The goal gave Mexico even more energy and minutes later they looked set to double the lead after Uriel Antuna was brought down in the Suriname area. Santiago Gimenez stepped up to take the spot kick, but missed over the crossbar, keeping it a one-goal affair.
Despite the miss, Mexico kept the pressure on and a counterattack in the 82’ ended with Antuna swinging a ball across for Alvarado that was turned into the Suriname net by home defender Damil Dankerlui to complete the 2-0 scoreline.
