Raúl Jiménez of Mexico scored 46 seconds after the opening whistle and found the net in the minute 75 with a dazzling free kick to lead and sort A 2-0 victory over Canada In a semi-final of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) on Thursday evening.
With victory, Mexico goes to its third CNL final to face the Panama after the oppressed Canaleros Beat an American side heavily favored in the other semi-final.
Panama – classified n ° 36 worldwide – is the first team in Central America to reach a CNL final. Mexico – Classified n ° 19 in the last ranking of FIFA – went to the final in 2020 and 2024 before losing against the United States.
El Tri took a dream start at the SO-FI stadium outside Los Angeles, with Jiménez Bondi on a loose ball behind the defense.
Defender Johan Vásquez created the opportunity, intercepting a reversal of Canada and the manager to the box. With his return to goal, Jiménez The backward back at Roberto Alvarado who scored an attempted shooting. The ball slipped directly on the way to Jiménez who kept him after the Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, inside the distant goal position. Just like that, El Tri was at the top of 1-0.
Raúl’s goal was his 36th with the national team, breaking equality with Luis Hernández to go to fourth place on the marking list of all time in Mexico.
El Tri took a break a few minutes later when referee Héctor Martínez du Honduras refused Canadian Pleidoyers for a penalty. The video replay said that Mexico defender Edson Álvarez had cut off Derek Cornelius after the defender of Canada passed the ball in front of him, but the referee remained with the non-appeal.
The rest of the half -time was jerky – Martínez whistled 25 faults in the first 45 minutes – while Canada continued in search of a goal to level the scoring.
The rear line of El Tri – regular all along – actually cuts crossing tracks in the goal box while the Mexican attackers constantly harass the canada ball heads.
Alvarado had the chance to get on the match sheet itself in the minute 19, running in the penalty arc to recover a long balloon from Carlos Rodríguez, but the Canadian goalkeeper rushed the ball and made it wide.
In the minute 39, Mexico saw its application for a 2-0 advance refused. Álvarez directed a clever crossroads from Alvarado in the net, but the referee called offside.
Shortly after half-time, Captain of Canada Alphonso Davies did not shoot a shot directly in front at the top of the box. Shortly after and in quick succession, Mexican defender Jesús Gallardo and winger Alexis Vega had bad reversals that were saved by alert teammates.
What a goal by Raúl Jiménez! ✨🇲🇽#CnLFINALS pic.twitter.com/keds2uqafp
– Concacaf Nations League (@Cnationsleague) March 21, 2025
In the minute 60, the goalkeeper of El Tri Luis Malagón became recklessly unable to pursue a long centering pass, but badly judged it. The ball was overturned to the other post with Malagón completely out of position. Fortunately for the mexico, Álvarez reacted first, nodding away from the goal and out of danger just like Cornelius of Canada slammed to him.
Fifteen minutes later, Jiménez led the nail to the coffin, with A 28 -meter perfect free kick This has zipped between a clear St. who throws himself and the nearby post.
With The 37th objective of the Jiménez national teamThe 33 -year -old striker is a goal to link the third top top scorer of all time, the football star who has become a politician White cuauhtemoc.
El Tri saw the match from there, limiting Canada to a single shot all night.
Thursday’s result means that Canada only won one of its last 13 games against Mexico. The Reds will now face the United States in the third place on Sunday, the consolation match.
The United States, the best-classified concacaf team at No. 16, was ASNULE 1-0 by n ° 36 PANAMA In the first semi-final of the night thanks to a goal of stopping time of Cecilio Waterman.
During the Panama-US match, the three reigning CNL champions wasted the opportunities soon and later, then saw the disbelief while Adalberto Carrasquillo found Waterman, who from the inside on the right side of the box pulled the house winner in the minute 90 + 4.
With reports from The Associated Press,, The guardian And Concacaf
