USA v Mexico betting tips: El Tri can add to Gold Cup haul
Preview and odds for Gold Cup final
CONCACAF’s two big guns will square off in the Gold Cup final for an eighth time on Monday as we look at some USA v Mexico betting tips.
Holders Mexico will bid for a Gold Cup hat-trick after beating the USA in the last two finals while the runners-up hope to end the Mexicans’ dominance after losing six of the previous seven finals to them.
The pair meet at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, on Monday at 1.30am.
USA v Mexico match odds
Delayed by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, has produced the final many expected.
Mexico and the USA have met in seven previous CONCACAF Gold Cup finals and it is 6-1 to El Tri, America’s sole win coming in 2007.
Mexico have won nine previous editions of the Gold Cup since it reverted to a knockout competition in 1991, including five of the last seven.
They have not lost since falling to the United States in June’s Nations League final.
Mexico are 23/20 to defeat the USA in 90 minutes and 4/1 to win but concede in 90 minutes.
Mexico started off with a sluggish scoreless draw against Trinidad & Tobago in the opening match of group play.
Yet they have been ruthless since and downed Canada 2-1 in the semi-final with a dubious penalty from Orbelin Pineda and a late strike from Hector Herrera, who netted in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Despite being largely outplayed, USA defeated reigning Asian champions Qatar 1-0 in their semi-final, with substitute Gyasi Zardes’ 86th-minute strike proving the difference. It handed the invited guests their first defeat in 11 matches in 2021.
The USA v Mexico betting tips reveal the USA are 12/5 to beat Mexico in normal time and it is 5/4 three or more goals will be scored in the game.
USA v Mexico head-to-head
Mexico have won 38 of the last 73 meetings since 1934, including two of the last seven meetings, according to the USA v Mexico betting tips stats.
The USA have won 21 meetings in that span and have scored at least once in nine of their last 11 clashes. The USA are 13/2 to win but concede in 90 minutes.
Both sides scored in five of the last nine meetings and it is 19/20 that this is the case in the final.
There have been 14 draws and the draw is available at 21/10.
USA v Mexico team news
After losing the Nations League final to the USA earlier this summer, El Tri boss Gerardo Martino has had the luxury of picking an almost-full-strength squad throughout this tournament, despite a heavy workload that includes the upcoming World Cup qualifiers and the Olympics for his U23 side.
The USA v Mexico betting tips analysis reveals that while he has fielded most of his top players against a somewhat weakened field, counterpart Gregg Berhalter’s squad is bereft of a few big names.
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Zack Steffen, Josh Sargent and other US regulars missed the Gold Cup for vacation followed by pre-season with their European clubs.
In the semi-final, USA coach Berhalter (pictured above) made a rare decision to start the same line-up in consecutive games – and may well do so this time, with no significant injury concerns.
Despite the absence of Napoli striker Hirving Lozano, who suffered a neck and head injury in their first game, Martino is likely to field his strongest side and Mexico are 9/1 to win 2-0.
USA v Mexico key battles
The Americans have been stout defensively at the Gold Cup yet had it not been for USA keeper Matt Turner, Qatar might very well have put the semi-final beyond the Americans reach before half-time.
They were carved open too often and 30-year-old Monterrey frontman Rogelio Funes Mori will fancy his chances of adding to his tally. Mexico are 3/5 to lift the trophy.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
