Peter Gonzalez, the Getafe forward, made headlines by scoring for the Dominican Republic against Mexico in their opening match of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The match, played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 14, 2025, saw Mexico, the defending Gold Cup champions, secure a 3-1 victory, but Gonzalez's goal provided a moment of celebration for Los Quisqueyanos.
Mexico entered the tournament as strong favorites, having won three of their last four matches, including the CONCACAF Nations League final against Panama in March. The Dominican Republic, while considered underdogs, came into the Gold Cup with encouraging form, having lost only one of their last 11 matches. In their most recent match, they achieved an impressive 5-0 victory over Dominica.
The game started with Mexico dominating possession and creating several scoring opportunities. Dominican Republic's goalkeeper, Xavier Valdez, was called into action early, making a couple of crucial saves to keep the score level. Mexico's pressure eventually paid off when Edson Álvarez scored with a header in the 44th minute, giving El Tri a 1-0 lead.
Early in the second half, Raúl Jiménez extended Mexico's lead, scoring in the 47th minute to make it 2-0. However, the Dominican Republic responded just four minutes later when Peter Gonzalez found the back of the net, reducing the deficit to 2-1. The Dominican Republic's goal was assisted by Joao Urbáez. Despite Gonzalez's goal injecting some life into the Dominican Republic's attack, Mexico quickly restored their two-goal advantage. In the 53rd minute, Edson Álvarez deflected a shot off Cesar Montes and into the net, making the score 3-1.
The Dominican Republic fought hard throughout the match, with players like Peter Gonzalez, Dorny Romero, Edarlyn Reyes, and Heinz Mörschel working tirelessly in midfield and attack. However, they were ultimately unable to breach Mexico's defense again. Goalkeeper Xavier Valdez, despite conceding three goals, had an outstanding game, making several world-class saves, including one early on to deny Raul Jimenez.
The Dominican Republic's starting lineup included defenders Noah Dollenmayer, Edgar Pujol, Pablo Rosario, and Joao Urbáez. The midfield comprised Edarlyn Reyes, Heinz Mörschel, Jean Carlos López, and Jimmy Kaparos, while Peter González and Dorny Romero led the attack.
While the Dominican Republic did not secure a positive result against Mexico, Peter Gonzalez's goal and the team's overall performance demonstrated their growing ambition on the international stage. The team's solid defensive record in recent matches and the emergence of players like Gonzalez and Romero offer promise for the future.