Mexico defeats Saudi Arabia as Vega shines in 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal win (2-0): Highlights and goals

Mexico books its ticket to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals with a composed 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia at State Farm Stadium. Alexis Vega opened the scoring early in the second half after a clever setup by Raúl Jiménez, and a late own goal from Abdullah Madu off a Chávez cross sealed the result.

El Tri dominated possession and dictated the tempo from the start, consistently pressing and creating chances, while Saudi Arabia struggled to mount meaningful threats until the final moments. Jaime Lozano’s side moves on with confidence, while Saudi Arabia bows out after a spirited but ultimately overmatched performance.

Mexico defeats Saudi Arabia 2-0 for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals and you lived every moment of this exciting game here, on Bolavip.

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With time running out and trailing by two, Saudi Arabia is throwing everything forward. No longer holding back, they’re pushing numbers into the attack and trying to take control of the midfield, hoping to spark a late comeback. Mexico stays compact at the back, aware that one goal could shift the momentum. The Saudis are chasing a miracle, but El Tri remains composed and focused on closing this one out.

Mexico makes another change to manage the final stretch. Roberto Alvarado, who delivered a strong shift on the right wing, comes off. In his place enters Orbelín Pineda, bringing fresh legs and experience to help see out the result as El Tri holds a 2-0 lead.

Disaster at the back for Saudi Arabia! Mateo Chávez sends in a low cross from the left, and in an attempt to clear, Abdullah Madu accidentally redirects the ball into his own net. It’s an unfortunate moment for the Saudi defender—and a massive break for Mexico, who now take a commanding 2-0 lead with just 10 minutes to play in this Gold Cup quarterfinal.

Mexico remains firmly in control, dictating possession and pushing forward with poise. Saudi Arabia is struggling to respond—they’re not pressing high, wary of the gaps that could open up behind them. El Tri is taking advantage, circulating the ball with patience and waiting for the right moment to strike again. It’s one-way traffic as Mexico inches closer to sealing the win.

Jaime Lozano makes another attacking change as Alexis Vega—Mexico’s goal scorer—comes off to a round of applause. In his place enters Julián Quiñones, bringing fresh legs and pace to the front line as El Tri continues to search for the goal that would seal their place in the semifinals.

Saudi Arabia makes three changes as they look to spark a response. Al Shehri, Majrashi, and Al Aboud come off, with Al Ammar, Al Sahafi, and Al Salem entering the match. Head coach Hervé Renard is clearly looking to inject new energy into his side and find a way back into this quarterfinal.

Mexico continues to dictate the tempo, moving the ball with confidence and pushing numbers forward in search of a second goal. Santiago Giménez is already making his presence felt in the final third, while Chávez adds width on the left. Still, Saudi Arabia’s back line remains disciplined and organized, doing just enough to keep El Tri from pulling away. The next goal could prove decisive.

Head coach Jaime Lozano makes his first changes of the night. Raúl Jiménez and Jesús Gallardo make way, with Santiago Giménez and Mateo Chávez coming on. Giménez will look to add fresh energy and a scoring punch up top, while Chávez reinforces the left side as Mexico pushes to maintain control and close out the match.

With the lead secured, Mexico continues to apply relentless pressure, controlling possession and probing for a second goal to put the match out of reach. Saudi Arabia, however, remains composed and aware of the task ahead—they’re tightening up defensively and looking for any chance to counterattack and level the score. The battle is far from over.

A brilliant attacking move from Mexico sees Raúl Jiménez thread a perfect pass through the Saudi defense. Alexis Vega pounces and finds the back of the net—twice in quick succession! But the joy is cut short as the referee’s flag is raised for offside on the build-up. A frustrating moment for El Tri, who are piling on the pressure but can’t find a clean breakthrough just yet.

The previous offside call has been overturned after a VAR review — Alexis Vega’s goal stands! What a huge moment for Mexico as they finally crack the Saudi defense. Raúl Jiménez’s brilliant pass set up Vega perfectly, and this time there’s no doubt: El Tri lead 1-0 in this crucial quarterfinal. The crowd erupts as Mexico takes the lead!

We’re back underway at State Farm Stadium with the score still locked at 0-0. Mexico resumes their push for the opener, while Saudi Arabia will look to build on their late first-half momentum. A spot in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals is on the line—let's see who steps up in the next 45 minutes.

It’s all square at the break in Glendale, where Mexico dominated large stretches of the first half but couldn’t convert their possession into goals. El Tri created several chances—most notably through Gallardo, Alvarado, and a pair of corners—but Saudi Arabia’s back line, anchored by Majrashi, held firm.

Despite early struggles, Saudi Arabia grew into the match late in the half, showing flashes of composure and ambition in attack. Tensions also rose near the end of the first 45, with physical duels and signs of frustration on both sides. Everything to play for in the second half of this Gold Cup quarterfinal.

The match is heating up at State Farm Stadium. As both sides battle to gain control, the physicality has ramped up noticeably. Tempers are beginning to flare with several heated challenges and shoves exchanged between players. The referee is keeping a close eye as frustration mounts—this quarterfinal is turning into a real fight, both tactically and emotionally.

As the first half winds down, Saudi Arabia is beginning to show more confidence. After spending much of the opening 45 minutes pinned back, they're now starting to push forward in numbers and test Mexico’s midfield. A few promising spells of possession from the Saudis suggest they’re not content to just defend — they’re looking to put their own stamp on this quarterfinal as we head into the break.

Despite the scare, Majrashi is back on his feet and able to continue—what appeared to be a serious injury seems to have been a painful knock in the moment. Meanwhile, Mexico remains in firm control of the match, dominating possession and continuing to push Saudi Arabia deeper into their own half. No breakthrough yet, but El Tri looks the more dangerous side as we approach halftime.

Tense moments late in the first half as Majrashi goes down in visible pain following a knee-to-knee clash with Jesús Gallardo. The Mexican wingback was chasing a loose ball when the contact occurred, and Majrashi immediately screamed out, clutching his leg. Medical staff rush onto the field as players from both sides look on with concern. No card shown to Gallardo, but the injury looks potentially serious.

Following the previous corner, there was a short delay as Johan Vásquez and Erik Lira both went down after a heavy collision inside the box. Medical staff quickly assessed the situation, and fortunately, both players are back on their feet and fit to continue. The match has resumed with Mexico still searching for that elusive opening goal.

El Tri wins yet another corner after sustained pressure, but the opportunity goes begging once again. This time, Johan Vásquez rises to meet the delivery but sends his header well over the bar.

Play is back underway after a moment of confusion—the player receiving treatment was actually Al Amri, not Majrashi. Fortunately, Al Amri is feeling stable and remains on the field. Mexico looks ready to keep up the pressure as the quarterfinal battle continues.

There’s a brief pause in the action as Majrashi receives medical attention for what appears to be a minor knock. The Saudi defender went down after a challenge but looks set to continue without needing a substitution. Both teams using the break to regroup as Mexico continues to push for the opener.

El Tri continues to push forward with intent, but Saudi Arabia’s back line remains organized and resilient. Mexico is finding more space in the final third, with Alexis Vega and Alvarado linking well on the wings, and Jiménez lurking centrally. The pressure is mounting, and it feels like a goal may be coming soon if the Saudis can't relieve the wave of attacks.

Gilberto Mora makes his senior national team debut in competitive play, becoming the youngest-ever player for Mexico at 16 years old.

Mexico nearly finds the breakthrough as Roberto Alvarado whips in a dangerous cross toward Raúl Jiménez inside the box. The striker was ready to pounce, but Majrashi comes flying in with a perfectly timed clearance to deny a clear scoring chance. Tremendous defensive effort from the Saudi center back to keep it scoreless.

Mexico continues to control the rhythm of the match, keeping the ball circulating and probing the Saudi defense. Gallardo and Vega are active on the flanks, but the final pass is still lacking. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, stays compact at the back and looks for quick transitions—hoping to catch Mexico off guard with a counterattack. So far, the defensive discipline from the Saudis is holding firm.

El Tri is in full control through the opening stages, dominating possession and pinning Saudi Arabia deep into their own half. Mexico’s midfield, led by Marcel Ruíz and Erik Lira, is pulling the strings while the Saudis are focused on holding their defensive shape and weathering the early pressure.

Jesús Gallardo makes an early impact down the left flank, bursting past his marker and sending a low cross into the box. Saudi Arabia scrambles to clear, conceding the first corner of the match. However, the ensuing set piece is poorly executed and the chance goes begging. Positive signs from El Tri in the opening minutes.

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal between Mexico and Saudi Arabia is officially underway at State Farm Stadium!

Mexico and Saudi Arabia are now lined up as the national anthems ring out across State Farm Stadium. The atmosphere is electric in Glendale with a quarterfinal spot on the line at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Mexico

• June 22, 2025 – Mexico 0–0 Costa Rica

• June 18, 2025 – Suriname 0–2 Mexico

• June 14, 2025 – Mexico 3–2 Dominican Republic

• June 10, 2025 – Mexico 1–0 Turkiye

• June 7, 2025 – Mexico 2–4 Switzerland

Saudi Arabia

• June 22, 2025 – Saudi Arabia 1–1 Trinidad & Tobago

• June 19, 2025 – Saudi Arabia 0–1 United States

• June 15, 2025 – Haiti 0–1 Saudi Arabia

• June 10, 2025 – Saudi Arabia 1–2 Australia

• June 5, 2025 – Bahrain 0–2 Saudi Arabia

State Farm Stadium is a multi-purpose venue with a retractable roof located in Glendale, Arizona, just west of Phoenix. It serves as the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and also hosts the annual Fiesta Bowl. The stadium has a seating capacity of approximately 63,400.

Here’s how it looks:

A general view inside the stadium prior to the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group D match between Mexico and Ecuador at State Farm Stadium

Here's Mexico's starting lineup for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup against Saudi Arabia

The confirmed lineups are in!

Here's Saudi Arabia's starting lineup for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup against Mexico

For this Gold Cup matchup, American referee Lukasz Szpala has been assigned to oversee the game. He already officiated earlier in the tournament during Costa Rica’s 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic. In Major League Soccer, his domestic league, Szpala has taken charge of 12 matches so far this season.

Mexico vs Saudi Arabia will get underway at 10:15 PM ET (PT: 7:15 PM.)

Watch this clash between Mexico and Costa Rica live in the USA on Fubo, FS1, Univision, TUDN, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue and ViX.

Welcome to our live blog of the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals!

Mexico face Saudi Arabia with a spot in the next round on the line, as El Tri enters as the heavy favorite while Saudi Arabia looks to pull off the unexpected.

Stay with us for key information and fun facts in the preview before we bring you minute-by-minute updates throughout the game!