Inglewood, California (AP) — Over the last three years, Raúl Jiménez watched on television as his teammates failed in their bid to crown themselves champions of the CONCACAF Nations League. With four goals in two matches, the forward made sure that story would be different with him on the field.
The Fulham striker in the Premier League notched a brace for the second straight game on Sunday night as Mexico edged Panama 2-1 to claim the CONCACAF Nations League title for the first time in its history.
Jiménez converted his goals at the 8th and 90th minutes to decide the match for the second straight game for the Mexicans, who had fallen short in two finals against the United States in the previous three editions of the tournament.
“It’s a great achievement, beyond the goals; when we had to defend we did well, and when we attacked as well, and there’s the prize with this trophy that had eluded us,” Jiménez said, who for various reasons had missed the decisive stages of this tournament in earlier years. “It’s my first time playing the Final Four, and what better way to come out as champions.”
With his brace against Panama, the 33-year-old striker moved to 39 goals with the Mexican national team, breaking a tie with Cuauhtémoc Blanco and leaving him alone in third place on the all-time list, behind only Jared Borgetti (46) and Javier Hernández (52).
“It’s something that’s there, I still have many games ahead with the national team and there’s a lot to give,” said the 33-year-old forward about the possibility of catching up to “Chicharito” Hernández. “I’ll give my best effort and if it happens, I’ll be the happiest.”
Adalberto Carrasquilla scored in the 45th minute for Panama, who again came up short of winning the first CONCACAF title in their history. A couple of years ago, in the Gold Cup, they also lost in the final to the Mexicans.
The triumph gives Javier Aguirre his first title in what is his third stint at the helm of the Mexican national team.
“This Cup is what we wanted from day one, since the arrival of the ‘Vasco,’ it was a tough road but we pulled this off and we’re happy,” added Jiménez.
Mexico moved ahead when Roberto Alvarado delivered a cross from the right toward the near post area where Jiménez met it with a header and tucked it in at the right post.
The Mexicans again threatened in the 26th minute with a shot from Santiago Giménez, but Panama equalized and were close to drawing level in the 40th with a long-range attempt from José Luis Rodríguez that was deflected by goalkeeper Luis Malagón.
In the following corner, the Mexican goalkeeper couldn’t gather the cross and Johan Vázquez committed a foul inside the area while trying to clear the ball, earning a penalty that Carrasquilla converted down the middle.
In the second half, the Mexicans held possession but generated little danger toward the goal until the 72nd minute when Giménez connected with a header inside the box.
The match was halted at the 83rd minute because of a homophobic chant that has led FIFA to sanction Mexico.
On the restart, José Ángel Córdoba committed a handball inside the area for a penalty that Jiménez converted to the left side of goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
