Concacaf is once again painted green, white, and red. A penalty sealed Mexico’s first-ever Concacaf Nations League title, with Raúl Jiménez emerging as the star of El Tri. His two goals were crucial in securing a 2-1 victory over Panama at SoFi Stadium, finally delivering the long-awaited championship.
The match was anything but easy for Mexico. Panama arrived determined to play aggressively and put El Tri under pressure. Javier Aguirre’s squad, however, capitalized on key moments to claim victory-16 years after his last international title with Mexico.
A tense battle in Los Angeles
Panama started stronger, creating early chances that tested Mexico’s defense. Adalberto Carrasquilla fired a powerful shot from outside the box, but Luis Malagón made a crucial save to keep the game level. The Mexican team struggled to find their rhythm, but a defensive mistake from Panama changed everything. Goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera misjudged a play, allowing Jiménez to head the ball into the net and ignite the crowd at SoFi Stadium.
Santi Giménez nearly doubled Mexico’s lead, breaking past Edgardo Fariña but narrowly missing the target. However, Panama responded with dangerous attacks, exposing Mexico’s defensive weaknesses. A well-placed cross by José Luis Rodríguez created a clear opportunity, but Edgardo Fariña failed to convert. Moments later, a long-range shot forced Malagon into another impressive save.
Panama’s persistence paid off when Johan Vasquez fouled Cecilio Waterman inside the box. After a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty, which Carrasquilla confidently converted, leveling the match. With the momentum shifting, Mexico found itself struggling to regain control against Panama’s physical and organized defense.
Jimenez delivers Mexico’s historic win
The tension inside SoFi Stadium reached its peak. With 68,000 fans-mostly Mexican supporters-watching anxiously, frustration led to moments of controversy, including offensive chants from the stands. Just as the game seemed destined for extra time, fate intervened. José Córdoba’s handball inside the box gave Mexico a lifeline. Jiménez stepped up once again, showing nerves of steel as he converted the penalty for his second goal of the night.
With that decisive strike, Mexico secured its long-awaited Nations League title, finally adding the missing trophy to its Concacaf collection. The victory not only ended El Tri’s frustration in the tournament but also reaffirmed Mexico’s dominance in the region.
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