Mexico vs Costa Rica
Group A of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup is settled, and the first round games finish on Monday when the already qualified Mexico and Costa Rica meet at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
To reach this stage so early, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico beat the Dominican Republic 3-2 and then Suriname 2-0, while Costa Rica edged a seven-goal thriller against Suriname 4-3 and then saw off the Dominican Republic with a 2-1 victory.
So El Tri leads the table on goal difference and are favourites to win the group over Miguel Herrera’s Costa Rica, who are a team in transition, with 15 of the Tico’s squad 25 years old or younger. But his young side has delivered so far, with a perfect pair of CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 results, and now they will have their sights set on a semifinal place.
Talking Points
Mexico’s aim is crystal clear
The pre-tournament CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 betting odds placed Mexico as joint favourites alongside Maurico Pochettino’s USA. And, while the Stars and Stripes have rested some of their biggest names, El Tri have all their big guns firing, and they look determined to win a 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup to set down a marker for next year’s World Cup.
El Tri swept aside Suriname in relative ease through an unlikely name as their match-winner, as Lokomotiv Moscow defender Cesar Montes scored both goals to double his tally from 54 internationals. The former Monterrey man, now 28 years old, planted home a header from a corner early in the second half, and then he doubled his and Mexico’s score just five minutes later.
Montes also scored in the win over the Dominican Republic, and he now has three goals in the competition for joint lead the top scorers list. Meanwhile, Fulham striker Raul Jimenez and West Ham United’s midfield ace Edson Alvarez have one goal each. It will be interesting to see whether Aguirre shuffles his pack in this final group game against Costa Rica, though I suspect he will be keen to carry some momentum through to the knockout stage.
Costa Rica’s goal threat
Los Ticos have their own hitman at the top of the list for the Gold Cup Golden Boot in the shape of 23-year-old Spartak Moscow striker Manfred Ugalde. He has found the net three times so far to make it 10 goals in 24 games for Costa Rica after plundering 17 goals in 41 games for the Russian side.
Ugalde held his nerve to score a 103rd minute penalty in the 4-3 victory over Suriname, and Costa Rica didn’t have it all their own way in their second match either as the Dominican Republic pushed them all the way, succumbing to a late Josimar Alcocer goal as Los Ticos came out on the right side of a three-goal tussle.
Alcocer plays his football in the Belgian Pro League with Westerlo and, at 20 years of age, he has already picked up 21 caps for Costa Rica, scoring six goals. And he, too, has proved he is a man for the big moment, netting his winner against the Dominican Republic with just five minutes left on the clock. Ugalde and Alcocer will stretch the Mexico defense and keep running to the final whistle.
History
While El Tri are nine-time Gold Cup winners, Costa Rica won the competition three times in their heyday, most recently in 1989, but they did reach the World Cup quarterfinals in 2014, inspired by the legendary Keylor Navas, who, at the grand old age of 38, still captains this young group.
With 18 wins to one, the Mexicans have totally bossed this relationship, and they have won five of the last six meetings, though two of those victories came courtesy of a penalty shootout. We have to look back to 2013 to find a Costa Rica victory over El Tri, with their last 11 efforts all winless.
Both nations come into this game in good form. Mexico have won five from their last six games, while the Costa Ricans have won all six.
Betting Tip
The 2023 Champions, Mexico, are priced here at SBOTOP at odds of 1.44 to win this game, with Costa Rica at 5.12 and the draw is 7.64. While the favourites have an experienced squad, their opponents have the optimism of youth on their side.
So I don’t see a bore draw in this low-pressure encounter, and, with an average of 4.25 goals from the games involving these two teams so far, I’m hoping for plenty of goalmouth action.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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