INGLEWOOD, California (AP) — For the past three years, Raúl Jiménez watched on television as his teammates failed in their attempts to win the CONCACAF Nations League. With four goals in two games, the forward made sure that this time the story was different with him on the field.
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The Fulham forward from the Premier League scored a brace for the second consecutive game on Sunday night and Mexico defeated Panama 2-1 to be crowned champions of the CONCACAF Nations League for the first time in their history.
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How did Mexico achieve their victory over Panama?
Jiménez scored his goals at the eighth and 90th minutes to settle the match for the Mexicans for the second consecutive game, who had lost two finals against the United States in the three previous editions of this tournament.
“It is a great achievement, setting aside the goals, when we had to defend we did well and also when attacking, and there is the reward with this trophy that had been denied to us,” said Jiménez, who for various reasons was absent from the decisive stages of this tournament in previous years. “It is the first time I play in the ‘Final Four’ and what better than to become champions.”
With his brace against the Panamanians, the striker has scored 39 goals with the Mexican national team to break a tie with Cuauhtémoc Blanco and is now alone in third place in the historical ranking, only behind Jared Borgetti (46) and Javier Hernández (52).
“It’s something that is there, I still have many games ahead with the national team and there is a lot to give,” said the 33-year-old forward about the possibility of reaching “Chicharito” Hernández. “I will give my best effort and if it happens, I will be the happiest.”
Adalberto Carrasquilla scored at 45 minutes for the Panamanians, who fell just short of securing their first Concacaf title in history. A couple of years ago, in the Gold Cup, they also lost in the final against the Mexicans.
Anyway, the Panamanian team leaves with their heads held high, after eliminating the United States in the semifinals with a dramatic finish.
The triumph gives Javier Aguirre his first title in what is his third stint leading the Mexican national team.
“This Cup is what we wanted from day one, since the Vasco Aguirre arrived, it was a difficult path but we pulled through and we are happy,” added Jiménez.
The title-winning goal came after José Ángel Córdoba committed a handball inside the box, resulting in a penalty that Jiménez converted past the left post of goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera in the final minute of the match.