Mexico made a remarkable comeback in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals, overturning a two-goal deficit from the first leg to secure a commanding 4-0 victory against Honduras in Toluca on Tuesday night. The team’s impressive performance featured two goals from Henry Martín, along with contributions from Raúl Jiménez and Jorge Sánchez.
With this 4-2 aggregate win, Mexico has secured a place in the semifinals, where they will face Canada on March 20 in Inglewood, California. The defending champions, the United States, will go up against Panama in the other semifinal match.
In a concurrent match played in Toronto, Canada achieved a 3-0 victory over Suriname, allowing them to advance with a 4-0 aggregate score. Jonathan David opened the scoring for Canada with his record-setting 31st goal, while Jacob Shaffelburg added two goals to the total.
Coming off a disappointing 2-0 defeat in the first leg in San Pedro Sula, Jiménez ignited Mexico’s comeback in the 42nd minute by converting a cross from Jesús Orozco, marking his 35th international goal. The tide turned further when Martín equalized the aggregate score in the 72nd minute with a goal following a header from Jiménez off a corner taken by Alexis Vega.
In the 85th minute, Sánchez extended the lead by expertly controlling Vega’s cross, striking a right-foot shot over the head of goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar from just seven yards out. Ultimately, Martín capped off the victory in stoppage time by converting a penalty after being tripped by Kervin Arriaga, marking his 11th international goal.
Meanwhile, in Canada’s match, David registered the first goal in the 23rd minute, seizing on a rebound after a corner. This goal marked his fourth in six games and allowed him to surpass Cyle Larin as Canada’s all-time leading scorer.
Shaffelburg added to the scoreline by pouncing on a long ball from Moïse Bombito in the 30th minute, deftly evading goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen to score into an empty net. He later scored once again in the 67th minute with a goal from a cross by Larin, bringing his international tally to six goals.
In a near miss, Larin struck the post in the 80th minute, which led to a premature celebration of fireworks in the stadium and left Larin visibly astonished at the turn of events.