SAN ANTONIO - Angel Sepulveda and Edson Alvarez scored and Mexico held on to beat Curaçao 2-0 on Sunday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio to win Group C in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and continue its bid for a fourth championship in five years.
Mexico advanced to face Honduras in the quarterfinals Thursday night in Glendale, Arizona.
The defending champions had a surprisingly tough match against Curaçao, which was competing in the Gold Cup for the first time. Sepulveda scored on a diving header in the 22nd minute off a cross-field assist from Raul Lopez. Alvarez scored in the 90th minute shortly after injury time was added.
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio celebrated Alvarez’s goal from a suite in the Alamodome while serving the third of a six-match suspension from FIFA for his actions toward officials during a Confederations Cup match. Coming off a scoreless draw against Jamaica on Thursday night in Denver, Mexico was able to overcome a gritty effort by Curaçao to finish 2-0-1 in Group C.
Jamaica and El Salvador tied 1-1, so both teams also advanced out of Group C based on match points. Nelson Bonilla gave El Salvador an early lead with an assist from Ruben Marroquin. Jamaica evened the score on a penalty kick by Darren Mattocks after El Salvador’s Narciso Orellana was whistled for a hand ball in the penalty area.
Jamaica finished second in the group and El Salvador finished third.
