DALLAS, Texas – Group A of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup is done and dusted, providing memories of six entertaining matches full of moments from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago.

Here are the top five moments from Group A:

 

Phillip’s heroics save Trinidad and Tobago

Coming into their Gold Cup opener against Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago had been bolstered by the play of GK Nicklas Frenderup in the Prelims to be able to reach the group stage. However, in the first match against El Tricolor, Marvin Phillip got the nod in goal for the Soca Warriors and was nothing short of excellent. Phillips registered seven saves against Mexico, some coming in extraordinary fashion, to secure a clean sheet and a 0-0 draw for Trinidad and Tobago. It was the first time that Mexico had ever started a Gold Cup with a scoreless draw.

 

Roldan with a debut to remember

Alex Roldan made his El Salvador international debut in La Selecta’s opening group stage match against Guatemala, coming on as a second half substitute in what was a 0-0 game at the time. Needless to say, Roldan’s presence had an immediate impact. The Seattle Sounders man, whose brother Cristian is playing in the Gold Cup for the United States, cracked a right-footed shot into goal to give El Salvador a 1-0 lead in a game they would eventually win 2-0. It will assuredly be a moment that Roldan will never forget.

 

Twice as nice for Funes Mori

Rogelio Funes Mori has just four games under his belt as a member of the Mexican National Team, but he has made quite the impression. After coming within a whisker several times of scoring in Mexico’s opening match versus Trinidad and Tobago, Funes Mori would tally his first Gold Cup goal in the first half of Wednesday’s contest against Guatemala. The Argentina-born striker collected a pass and curled a right-footed shot into net for the score. Funes Mori was back at it again early in the second half when he swept a shot to score the first two goals of Mexico’s 3-0 win. 

 

Guatemala finishes on a high note

Despite not reaching the knockout round, Guatemala’s Gold Cup ended on a positive note with a 1-1 draw versus Trinidad and Tobago. The Chapines secured their lone point of the group stage with a fantastic headed finish from Gerardo Gordillo, who soared through the air and met a corner kick, smacking the ball into the net in the 77’ to earn the Central Americans a positive result.

 

Mexico, El Salvador deliver a match to remember

Mexico claimed the top spot in Group A thanks to a 1-0 win over El Salvador in their group stage finale in what was a match to remember. In front of over 45,000 fans at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the two teams produced a breathtaking 90 minutes, with fans from both teams hanging on every moment. There were great saves from both goalkeepers, near-misses with shots hitting the post and great individual plays throughout. It was the Gold Cup at its very best.