Latest news with #MarioEscobar
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
USMNT soccer fans convinced Gold Cup final was 'rigged' for Mexico after 'scandalous' referee decision
Fans of the USMNT were left in disbelief after officials waved away a handball appeal during their Gold Cup defeat. On Sunday night, Mauricio Pochettino 's side were brushed aside by Mexico after a late goal from midfielder Edson Alvarez secured a historic 2-1 win. Things could have been very different, however, after the USMNT thought that they would be awarded a spot-kick while the score was still level. In the 66th minute - with the score tied at 1-1 - full-back Max Arfsten attempted to break through the Mexico defense but was prevented by Jorge Sanchez. However, after winning the ball, Sanchez lost his footing and blatantly put his hand on the ball in order to regain his balance. Despite the clear infringement, referee Mario Escobar waved play on and, in the end, Mexico went on to snatch the win and the title itself. Reminder that no handball was given for this. — USMNT Only (@usmntonly) July 7, 2025 Footage showed USMNT manager Pochettino fuming with officials and pleading for an explanation as to why they were not awarded a penalty. The former Tottenham boss, later, made his feelings clear in his post-match press conference. He said: 'I'm not going to cry. I want to tell the truth. 'And the truth is if that happened in the opposite half, in the other box, for sure it's a penalty'. Fans on social media echoed the thoughts of Pochettino as they insisted that the match had been 'rigged' in Mexico's favor. One user wrote: 'No mention of the obvious penalty?! The uncalled fouls on Agyemang? Come on man! The ref needs to be investigated. 'This game was rigged!! If you're a reporter, you must report everything and cut off the pride and smile stuff. Of course USA was the better team!!' Another wrote: 'VAR on Mexico's game winning goal but not for this hilarious handball? Oh ok. S*** is so rigged'. On the night, Mexico striker Raul Jimenez paid an emotional tribute to former teammate Diogo Jota after scoring. Fans were quick to claim that the Gold Cup had been rigged in Mexico's favour Jimenez drew Mexico level in the 27th minute on Sunday night after Chris Richards had fired the USMNT ahead after just four minutes. In the end Edson Alvarez proved the hero for El Tri at NRG Stadium in Texas when he popped up with the game-winning goal 13 minutes from time. Jota, who helped Liverpool win the Premier League title last season, and his younger brother Andre Silva were tragically killed in a car accident close to the Portuguese border in northwestern Spain early Thursday morning. Jimenez who played alongside Jota for two years at Wolves before the latter's move to Liverpool in 2020, marked his equalizing strike by sitting on the turf and recreating Diogo's trademark gaming celebration alongside a special No 20 jersey with his name on.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Handball Controversy: Why Didn't the Referee Award a Penalty For The USMNT Vs Mexico?
Handball Controversy: Why Didn't the Referee Award a Penalty For The USMNT Vs Mexico? originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The USMNT suffered a 2-1 loss to Mexico in the 2025 Gold Cup Final, but some fans believe the team lost unfairly. A controversial play in the second half has USMNT fans puzzled and angry that the referee did not call. Advertisement In the 66th minute, Mexico's Jorge Sanchez tackled Max Arfsten in the box and then touched the ball with his hand onto the ground. The referee did not award the USMNT a penalty for a handball, and many call it a controversial play that could've changed the outcome of the match. The referee, Mario Alberto Escobar Toca, was not called by VAR to check a replay of the controversial play. Despite many USMNT fans complaining about the handball, a former referee justifies why Mario Escobar did not call a penalty. Former Referee Agrees with No Penalty Decision Former FIFA referee Fernando Guerrero Ramírez gave his opinion on the handball in the Gold Cup final and believes the referee made a great judgment in not calling a penalty for Team USA. Fernando Guerrero Ramírez: "Great judgment by Mario Escobar in not calling a penalty for Sanchez's handball from the Mexican national team. He plays the ball and then, while falling, touches the ball with his hand unintentionally." What makes it hard for USMNT fans is that the play occurred when the game was tied 1-1. Just ten minutes later, Mexico scored the winner to win the Gold Cup. Advertisement The USMNT lost their first competitive match against Mexico since 2019, in the 2019 Gold Cup Final, which finished in a 1-0 win for the Mexicans. USA 1-2 Mexico (Mexico Gold Cup Champions) The USMNT had a dream start to the Gold Cup final as they scored in the first four minutes of the game. From a set piece, Sebastian Berhalter sent a perfect cross in the box. Chris Richards headed the ball over Mexico's Luis Malagon to score the opener. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced past the line, and goal-line technology helped the referee confirm the goal. After the opener, Mexico pressured the USMNT with great chances in front of the goal. Advertisement Mexico's pressure finally prevailed as Marcel Ruiz delivered a great through ball for Raul Jimenez, who smashed the ball past Matt Freese. USA and Mexico were drawing 1-1 at halftime. In the second half, Mexico continued to pile on the pressure with more chances. The USMNT had chances as well, but couldn't convert. Mexico's second goal arrived from a set piece as Edson Alvarez headed the ball into the net. At first, the goal was ruled offside, but VAR checked Alvarez's position and found that the West Ham United midfielder was onside. The goal was given, and Mexico took the lead. The goal ended up being the winner for Mexico, and they won back-to-back Gold Cups. Advertisement Related: The Man Behind the Athlete: Chris Richards' Parents, Girlfriend/Wife, Ethnicity & More Related: Gold Cup Final: Why Is Christian Pulisic Not Playing For the USMNT Vs. Mexico? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Mexico top Group A despite playing goalless draw against Costa Rica in Gold Cup
Mexico topped Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup despite playing a 0-0 draw against Costa Rica on Sunday, extending their unbeaten streak against the Ticos to 10 matches in the competition. Both teams ended the group stage with seven points, but Mexico edged the top spot on goal difference after earlier wins over the Dominican Republic and Suriname. A dramatic stoppage-time bicycle kick goal by Santiago Gimenez was ruled out following a VAR review, with the striker deemed offside in the buildup. Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar disallowed the goal after reviewing Luis Chavez's free kick, which was headed by Orlando Galo into Gimenez's path. — GoldCup (@GoldCup) Live Events With the group standings settled, Mexico will now face Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals, while Costa Rica prepare to meet the United States - though they will be without four key players. Manfred Ugalde and Carlos Mora are suspended due to yellow card accumulation, while Ariel Lassiter (fractured hand) and Warren Madrigal (broken leg) are out injured. Ugalde, who has scored three goals in the tournament, received his second yellow card in the 83rd minute after charging into Carlos Rodríguez and making contact with his elbow, triggering an automatic one-match suspension.
Washington Post
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Mexico wins CONCACAF Gold Cup group after 0-0 draw against Costa Rica
LAS VEGAS — Mexico tied Costa Rica 0-0 on Sunday night to win Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup and will play Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals. Mexico's Santiago Giménez appeared to score on a bicycle kick in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time but the goal was disallowed by Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar following a video review. Giménez appeared to be offside when Carlos Rodríguez lofted the ball into the penalty area following a free kick. Orlando Galo's headed clearance attempt went in front of the goal to Giménez.
Vancouver Sun
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Are the Whitecaps, not Messi, now the bullies of CONCACAF?
The bodies were dropping all over B.C. Place 's plastic shag last Wednesday in the Champions Cup semifinal. While Inter Miami players rolled hyperbolically on the turf, their faces screwed up in dramatic masks of simulated pain, so did their Vancouver Whitecaps counterparts. Article content Now, there were actual fouls in the game — lots of real, honest-to-goodness infractions — but head referee Mario Escobar, in a welcome departure from CONCACAF norms, swallowed his whistle and chose not to acknowledge them. Perhaps the most egregious example: Ralph Priso's second-half tackle on Lionel Messi, where he wrapped both arms around the icon and suplexed him into the ground just outside the Caps' box — a yellow card in any game, except, it seemed, this one. Article content Article content CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals, Leg 2 of 2 Article content (Whitecaps lead 2-0 on aggregate) Article content Game time: 5 p.m. PT Article content TV: OneSoccer. Radio: AM730 Article content Article content But this game had all the trappings of a CONCACAF master class. Elbows, studs-up challenges, jersey tugs, penalty shouts and trash talk in multiple languages. Article content Words flew through the air as often as bodies. Messi had some choice words for Whitecaps midfielder Andrés Cubas for his defensive haranguing during the game, and exchanged some with the Southsiders going off the field too. Article content Article content Article content Centre-back Tristan Blackmon found himself in the centre of a melee just after halftime, shoving Federico Redondo after the Argentine scythed down Caps winger Edier Ocompo. Article content Article content He also had to duel with Luis Suárez, whose goal-scoring skills are perhaps only equalled by his superlative skills as an instigator and all-around s–t disturber. Article content 'CONCACAF is a different beast to take on,' Blackmon said the day before holding the Uruguayan superstar in check. 'You're able to play through some things and sometimes the ref will call it quick and give you yellows and stuff like that but you have to be smart. It'll be chippy on both sides and we expect that.' Article content '(Suárez) also represents sometimes things that are not the most beautiful in football. But he is a great player,' said Caps coach Jesper Sørensen. 'He can do a lot of things. He's also a tricky player to play against, because he knows a trick or two when the ball is away.'
