On Sunday night, Mexico won the Concacaf Nations League tournament for the first time by defeating Panama 2-1. Ral Jiménez scored his second goal on a penalty kick in the second minute of extra time. Jiménez, the 33-year-old Fulham striker, dominated the week at SoFi Stadium with all four of Mexico’s goals in El Tri’s two matches. He scored against Panama with a header in the eighth minute, and in the 90th minute, he finally converted a penalty when defender José Córdoba touched the ball with his outstretched arm while chasing it. Adalberto Carrasquilla scored a penalty in first-half injury time for underdog Panama, who staged a dramatic 1-0 upset of the host US on Thursday night to reach the final.
The championship match was briefly suspended with 10 minutes left in regulation after a large portion of the raucous crowd of 68,212 repeatedly shouted the homophobic Spanish slur that is commonly used at Mexican matches both foreign and domestic despite several governing bodies’ attempts to eradicate it. The players took a water break while messages warning about the use of the slur appeared on the scoreboard and over the public address system.
Misbehavior aside, Mexico feels right at home in the Los Angeles Rams’ palatial stadium — or anywhere in Southern California, where El Tri invariably draws rowdy, adoring crowds. Mexico also won the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup at SoFi, beating Panama 1-0 on Santi Giménez’s late goal.
The US had won the first three editions of this tournament, which brings together the nations of North and Central America and the Caribbean. But with Jiménez in dominant form, Mexico stepped up to claim this trophy.
Jiménez played alongside Giménez in the Nations League semi-finals and finals, with coach Javier Aguirre using an aggressive alignment to create more attacking opportunities. It worked splendidly thanks to Jiménez, who needed only a few minutes to get Mexico on top in the final.
After Roberto Alvarado sent a long, beautiful cross into the box, Jiménez outmaneuvered a defender and hit a header that sparked a boisterous SoFi celebration. In the first half, Panama had more possession and shot attempts, which finally paid off when a video review showed that center-back Johan Vásquez fouled Mexico in the Mexico penalty area shortly before halftime. Carrasquilla barely got his shot above goalkeeper Luis Malagón’s trailing legs to tie it.
