Mexico U20 beat Antigua and Barbuda with three first-half goals

Mexico began the Concacaf U20 Championship with a 3-0 win over Antigua and Barbuda. All three goals came before half-time at Estadio Cuauhtémoc.

Hugo Camberos scored from the penalty spot and created the second goal. Santiago Sandoval added the third during first-half stoppage time.

Camberos opened the scoring from the spot

Mexico started the Group B match with long periods of possession. Antigua and Barbuda defended close to its own penalty area.

The first breakthrough arrived after a foul inside the box. Camberos took responsibility for the penalty in the twelfth minute.

He sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and gave the host team an early lead. The goal reduced the pressure around Mexico’s opening match.

Antigua and Barbuda kept its shape after falling behind. Mexico continued moving the ball across both sides of the pitch.

Camberos stayed involved from the left side of the attack. His next contribution created a simple finish for a teammate.

The early goal did not turn the match into a rushed contest. Mexico kept control and waited for clear spaces around the box.

Estadio Cuauhtémoc gave the host nation a familiar setting for the opener. The crowd saw Mexico take control before the quarter-hour mark.

Valenzuela scores after a complete team attack

Ten minutes after the opener, Sandoval played a through ball behind the defence. Camberos reached it before the covering defender.

He carried the ball into the area and passed across goal. Francisco Valenzuela arrived in the centre for a close-range finish.

The move combined a direct central pass with an unselfish final ball. Antigua and Barbuda could not recover after the first line was broken.

Valenzuela’s goal doubled Mexico’s advantage without requiring a difficult shot. The forward only needed to meet the pass at the far side.

Mexico then slowed the tempo for several minutes. The team protected possession and prevented an immediate response.

Antigua and Barbuda struggled to keep the ball long enough for a sustained attack. Its forwards remained separated from the midfield.

Sandoval’s first contribution did not appear on the score line as a goal. His pass still removed several defenders from the move.

Sandoval adds Mexico’s third goal before halftime

The third goal arrived during added time before the interval. A weak clearance fell into Sandoval’s path near the penalty area.

He reacted first and placed his finish beyond the goalkeeper. The strike rewarded his work in the build-up to the second goal.

Mexico entered half-time with a three-goal lead. Each goal came from a different action: a penalty, a passing move and a loose clearance.

That variety showed the pressure placed on Antigua and Barbuda’s defence. The visitors survived several phases but not the decisive moments.

The third goal also changed the second half. Mexico no longer needed to chase a larger margin or take unnecessary risks.

Antigua and Barbuda returned with the task of limiting further damage. The team kept the second-half score level.

Mexico did not repeat the same attacking pattern after the interval. Longer possessions replaced the quicker moves that produced the goals.

Mexico protected the result after the interval

Mexico controlled the ball without adding another goal. The hosts used the full width and managed the pace of the remaining minutes.

The clean sheet matched the calm second-half approach. Antigua and Barbuda did not find a route back into the match.

Mexico’s substitutions brought fresh players into a stable contest. The changes did not alter the shape of the result.

Goalkeeper and defenders completed the opener without conceding. Their work supported a victory built by the attackers before half-time.

The result placed Mexico on three points in Group B. Goal difference also gave the hosts a strong opening position.

The tournament still requires two more group matches. The opening win provides a base but does not settle qualification.

Twelve national teams take part in the championship. They are divided into three groups before the knockout rounds begin.

Mexico face Costa Rica in the second group match

Mexico will face Costa Rica in its second group match. Costa Rica opened the tournament with a narrow win over Guatemala.

Antigua and Barbuda meets Guatemala on the same day. Both teams enter that match seeking their first point.

The four-team group sends its leading sides toward the knockout stage. Every result therefore affects both points and goal difference.

Mexico enters the next match with a clean sheet and three different scorers or creators. Camberos and Sandoval shaped the opening victory.

Camberos supplied a goal and an assist. Sandoval provided the pass before the second goal and scored the third himself.

Their first-half work decided the contest in Puebla. Mexico then completed the match without allowing the lead to become uncertain.

The two best teams in each group advance directly. The two strongest third-place teams also receive places in the quarter-finals.