Mexico Takes Pan Am Football Gold

Jeronimo Aquino slotted home in the 76st minute to give Mexico a 1-0 victory against Argentina to win the gold medal at the Pan American Games, in front of a sold out Estadio Omnilife.

Argentina held off Mexico´s advances for the vast majority of the evening.

The gold medal game was the most-hyped event in Mexico in the whole Pan American Games.

Mexico had the better of the first half, with Miguel Ponce creating chances down the left wing, but Argentina too had opportunities and forced a couple of good saves from Mexico goalkeeper and captain Jesus Corona.
Argentina went close in the third minute of the second half, a flick on from a corner falling into the hands of Corona, just as an Argentine player was poised to pounce.

Chivas´ Miguel Angel Ponce had a golden chance to open the scoring for Mexico with a free header with short distance in the 60th.
Ponce put another back-post header wide in the 72nd after a fast break from an Argentine corner.

Amione was released for his goal by Javier Aquino, who had cut in from the right wing.

Brizuela went through one-one-one with the keeper with one minute remaining, but the keeper saved.

The Under-23 Mexico team played with three over-aged players, while Argentina fielded an Under-20 team largely made up of players that participated at last summer´s U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

Mexico Line-up:

Mexico: Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Hiram Mier (Monterrey), Nestor Araujo (Cruz Azul), Darvin Chavez (Monterrey), Eduardo Zavala (Monterrey), Javier Aquino (Cruz Azul), Oribe Peralta (Santos), Jeronimo Amione (Atlante), Ricardo Bocanegra (Atlas), Cesar Ibañez (Santos), Miguel Ponce (Chivas).

Subs: Jorge Enriquez for Bocanegra (77th), Isaac Brizuela for Amione (84th), Hugo Rodriguez for Aquino(44th)