INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Raúl Jiménez scored his second objective on a penalty kick within the second minute of second-half stoppage time, and Mexico beat Panama 2-1 Sunday evening 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 targets 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 putting a penalty awarded when defender José Córdoba touched the ball along with his inexplicably outstretched arm whereas chasing after it within the ninetieth minute.
“It’s unbelievable to come back again after what I’ve been by way of,” Jiménez mentioned. “I’m actually completely happy. That is only a nice instance that you simply by no means should lose religion, and proceed. You realize what you’re succesful to do.”
This exceptional match is simply the newest chapter within the comeback story of Jiménez, who incurred a severe head harm whereas taking part in 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 received 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 received 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 happy. We knew since we arrived, because the (quarterfinals) in opposition to Honduras after we received our move to the ultimate 4, we knew this recreation was going to be troublesome, 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 evening 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 international 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 handle system.
Misbehavior apart, Mexico feels proper at dwelling within the Los Angeles Rams’ palatial stadium — or anyplace in Southern California, the place El Tri is invariably handled as the house staff. Mexico additionally beat Panama right here two years in the past within the Gold Cup on Santi Giménez’s late objective.
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 because of Jiménez, who wanted only some minutes to get Mexico on prime within the ultimate.
“It was loopy,” Giménez mentioned. “We didn’t prepare it, however we’re soccer gamers, and we all know how you can play in each formation. It’s an honor for me to play with Raúl, and it was a superb outcome 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 evaluation decided heart again Johan Vásquez dedicated a foul within the Mexico penalty space shortly earlier than halftime. Carrasquilla barely acquired his shot above goalkeeper Luis Malagón’s trailing legs to tie it.
