Mexico was on the verge of being eliminated from the CONCACAF Nations League, far from its former regional throne, when nine promised minutes of added time expired.
In a quarter-final with two home and away games, the game ended 1-2 against Honduras at the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday evening. The decline has been further than ever in modern times, already the third coach in 12 months, and now at risk of missing the 2024 Copa America.
And then Edson Álvarez appeared.
He scored a goal in the 101st minute and saved Mexico.
Almost an hour later, El Tri won an absurd penalty shootout.
And CONCACAF leaders celebrated silently but safely alongside the tens of thousands of Mexicans who braved the rain and more than 100 minutes of fear.
Luis Chávez had halved Honduras’ lead in the first leg with a free kick late in the first half and brought the Azteca to life. But the excitement gradually turned to groans and disbelief as the hosts missed chance after chance in the second half, some of them seemingly unmissable. Then Julián Quiñones fired a simple shot wide of the goal thwarted an attempt on the doorstep in the 88th minute.
With every missed opportunity, Mexico moved dangerously close to the brink of disaster.
But then, in the 11th of nine added minutes, Álvarez forced extra time. After more Mexican pressure and more near misses, the game went to penalties – where it took another, almost unbelievable turn.
Mexico took the lead through Santi Gimenez and the fingertips of Luis Malagón. He held this lead for three laps, and César Huerta increased his lead on the fourth lap.
Huerta missed the ball – but Honduran goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar tiptoed off his line, allowing Huerta to shoot again.
Huerta missed the ball again – but again Menjivar got off his line to save.
On the third attempt, Huerta narrowly scored. Andy Najar missed. Mexico won, qualified for the 2024 Copa America and made many people who wanted to sell tickets, merchandise and sponsorships at the 2024 Nations League final in Texas very happy.
