Arlington, Texas – Defending champions Mexico secured their spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Suriname on Wednesday night at AT&T Stadium. The hero of the hour was Cesar Montes, whose two second-half goals propelled El Tri to the knockout stage.

The first half was a frustrating affair for Mexico, who dominated possession but struggled to break down a stubborn Suriname defense. Suriname's goalkeeper, Etienne Vaessen, was kept busy, making a diving deflection off an Edson Alvarez shot to keep the game scoreless. Despite Mexico's dominance in possession and shot creation, the first 45 minutes ended without a goal.

The breakthrough finally came in the 57th minute when Montes rose highest to meet an Alexis Vega corner, heading the ball powerfully past Vaessen. The goal sparked Mexico into life, and just six minutes later, Montes doubled his tally. After another corner, his initial header was blocked, but the defender reacted quickly to execute a scissor-kick from the ground, finding the bottom right corner of the net.

Montes's brace not only secured the win for Mexico but also saw him surge to the top of the tournament's scoring charts, tied with Costa Rica's Manfred Ugalde with three goals. Remarkably, before the tournament, the Lokomotiv Moscow defender had only scored once in his previous 53 international appearances, a friendly against Panama in June 2021. These were his first goals for the national team since 2021.

With the win, Mexico now leads Group A alongside Costa Rica, both with six points. Mexico holds a superior goal difference. Both teams have secured a place in the quarterfinals, setting up a crucial match on Sunday in Las Vegas to determine the group winner. A draw would be enough for Mexico to secure the top spot.

Suriname and the Dominican Republic have been eliminated from contention. They will play a match against each other on Sunday in Arlington.

The victory wasn't just about Montes's goals; it was a statement of intent from a Mexican side that, while not at their fluent best, showed the resilience and quality needed to navigate a tournament like the Gold Cup. After a sluggish start, Mexico head coach was able to adjust the team at halftime, which ultimately lead to the victory. Mexico will need to be sharper in the final third as they progress through the knockout stages.