Raul Jimenez brace leads Mexico to CONCACAF Nations League final against Panama
Raul Jimenez proved to be the difference-maker as Mexico secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
El Tri wasted no time establishing their dominance, with Jimenez finding the back of the net just 45 seconds into the match. The Fulham striker showcased his composure by coolly chipping the ball past Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to give Mexico an early advantage they would maintain throughout the contest.
Despite Canada's efforts to mount a comeback, Jimenez extinguished any remaining hopes in the 75th minute with a perfectly-executed free kick, sealing Mexico's place in Sunday's final. The victory was celebrated enthusiastically by the pro-Mexico crowd that filled SoFi Stadium.
This win represents a significant milestone for Mexico under coach Javier Aguirre, who returned for his third stint in charge following El Tri's disappointing early exit from last summer's Copa America. The team will now have an opportunity to claim the CONCACAF Nations League trophy for the first time after falling short to the United States in the previous two finals.
For Canada, Thursday's defeat marks a setback following their impressive showing at last summer's Copa America, where they reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champions Argentina and ultimately finishing fourth after a penalty shootout loss to Uruguay in the third-place match.
Mexico will face Panama in Sunday's final after the Canaleros produced a stunning upset against the United States with a late 1-0 victory courtesy of Cecelio Waterman's last-minute winner. Meanwhile, Canada will meet the USMNT earlier in the day in the third-place contest.
Should Mexico triumph over Panama, they would secure their second trophy since 2019, ending what has been a relatively dry spell by their lofty standards. Their last tournament victory came in the 2019 Gold Cup. For Aguirre personally, it would mark his second trophy with Mexico, having previously led them to Gold Cup glory in 2009.
The United States has won all three previous editions of the CONCACAF Nations League since the tournament's inception, but with their elimination, a new champion will be crowned on Sunday.
