Raul Jimenez’s dramatic stoppage-time penalty in opposition to Panama clinches Mexico’s maiden Nations League crown.
Raul Jimenez scored a brace, together with a stoppage-time penalty, to offer Mexico a 2-1 win over Panama within the CONCACAF Nations League remaining in Inglewood, California.
Jimenez, who additionally had a brace in Mexico’s semifinal win over Canada, stepped as much as the penalty spot after a handball from Jose Cordoba and despatched his shot into the highest proper nook for his second purpose of the sport on Sunday.
With the victory, Mexico are the primary winners of the nascent event apart from america after the People, who misplaced to Panama on this 12 months’s semifinal, gained the primary three editions in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
Jimenez, who performs ahead for Fulham within the English Premier League, put Mexico in entrance early when he bounced a header into the web from the left aspect within the eighth minute off a well-placed move by Roberto Alvarado.
However Panama drew stage with a penalty in stoppage time on the finish of the primary half when Adalberto Carrasquilla fired house from the spot with a shot proper down the center after a foul was referred to as on Cecilio Waterman.
Mexico pressed for a lot of the second half and Jimenez sealed the win shortly after play was briefly stopped and each groups’ gamers had been delivered to the aspect of the pitch after a homophobic chant from Mexico supporters continued even after an earlier in-stadium warning.
Earlier on Sunday, Canada beat the US 2-1 within the third-place recreation with Jonathan David scoring the winner early within the second half when he despatched his shot from the centre of the field to the underside left nook.
Canada struck first with a purpose by Tani Oluwaseyi however the US responded shortly after with a purpose from Patrick Agyemang.
