INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Raúl Jiménez scored his second purpose on a penalty kick within the second minute of second-half stoppage time, and Mexico beat Panama 2-1 Sunday night time to win the CONCACAF Nations League match for the primary time.
Jiménez, the 33-year-old Fulham striker, dominated the week at SoFi Stadium with all 4 of Mexico’s objectives in El Tri’s two matches.
After he scored on a header within the eighth minute in opposition to Panama, he used a stutter-step strategy earlier than completely hanging a penalty awarded when defender José Córdoba touched the ball together with his inexplicably outstretched arm whereas chasing after it within the ninetieth minute.
“It’s incredible to return again after what I’ve been by,” Jiménez mentioned. “I’m actually completely satisfied. That is only a nice instance that you just by no means should lose religion, and proceed. You realize what you’re succesful to do.”
This exceptional match is just the newest chapter within the comeback story of Jiménez, who incurred a severe head harm whereas enjoying for Wolves in November 2020. After fracturing his cranium in a collision with Arsenal’s David Luiz, he survived a life-threatening mind bleed and returned to competitors 9 months later.
The U.S. had gained the primary three editions of this match, which brings collectively the nations of North and Central America and the Caribbean. However with Jiménez in dominant kind and veteran coach Javier Aguirre tweaking his formation to emphasise aggression, Mexico stepped as much as declare one other trophy within the stadium the place it gained the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, each instances in entrance of vociferously pro-Mexico crowds.
“We’re having fun with our recreation,” Jiménez mentioned. “We’re actually completely satisfied. We knew since we arrived, for the reason that (quarterfinals) in opposition to Honduras after we gained our cross to the ultimate 4, we knew this recreation was going to be tough, however we knew we had the standard. We all know one another. We all know how we will play higher than the opposite groups, and that’s the important thing.”
Adalberto Carrasquilla scored on a penalty in first-half harm time for underdog Panama, which staged a dramatic 1-0 upset of the host U.S. on Thursday night time to achieve the ultimate.
The championship match was briefly suspended with 10 minutes left in regulation after a big portion of the raucous crowd of 68,212 repeatedly shouted the homophobic Spanish slur that’s generally used at Mexican matches each overseas and home regardless of a number of governing our bodies’ makes an attempt to eradicate it. The gamers took a water break whereas anti-slur messages appeared on the scoreboard and over the general public tackle system.
Misbehavior apart, Mexico feels proper at residence within the Los Angeles Rams’ palatial stadium — or wherever in Southern California, the place El Tri is invariably handled as the house workforce. Mexico additionally beat Panama right here two years in the past within the Gold Cup on Santi Giménez’s late purpose.
Jiménez performed up entrance alongside Giménez within the Nations League semifinals and finals, with coach Javier Aguirre utilizing an aggressive alignment to create offense. It labored splendidly due to Jiménez, who wanted just a few minutes to get Mexico on high within the ultimate.
“It was loopy,” Giménez mentioned. “We didn’t practice it, however we’re soccer gamers, and we all know easy methods to play in each formation. It’s an honor for me to play with Raúl, and it was an excellent end result as a result of we perceive one another. I used to be extra like a No. 10, however nonetheless was superb to play with him.”
After Roberto Alvarado put a protracted, lovely cross into the field, Jiménez outmaneuvered a defender and bounced in a header that set off a raucous celebration at SoFi.
Panama dominated possession and generated extra shot makes an attempt within the first half, and it lastly paid off when video overview decided middle again Johan Vásquez dedicated a foul within the Mexico penalty space shortly earlier than halftime. Carrasquilla barely obtained his shot above goalkeeper Luis Malagón’s trailing legs to tie it.
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