March 24 – Mexico is the new name on the Concacaf Nations League trophy after beating a battling Panama 2-1 in a pulsating encounter at the SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, with two more goals from striker Raul Jimenez.
It is the first time that Mexico have won this trophy after each of the three previous editions were won by the USA. It marks an emphatic return to the top of the Concacaf podium as they also hold the Gold Cup – a title they won in this stadium in 2023 with a 1-0 victory, also over Panama.
They will defend that title in the US this summer, the last competitive tournament for both Mexico, the USA and Canada, before they co-host the World Cup in 2026.
Mexican football loves its incursions into the US – they are usually winning ones. This one, considering the political situation between the two countries, will be particularly sweet.
Will Smith got jiggy with the audience in the SoFi Stadium ahead of the Nations League final but this was a crowd that needed little warming.
With the USA barely managing to find any support after their semi-final loss to to Panama and another insipid performance against Canada, Mexico were hell bent on having a party in their back yard, and did’ they.
There were 68,212, mainly Mexican fans, who along with a sprinkling of Panamanians sent the message that you can you take our canal and our civil liberties but you will never take our football, no matter how many trips FIFA president Gianni Infantino makes to the White House to see his pal Donald Trump.
The SoFi Stadium from the start was rocking to the expectation of Mexican glory.
Javier Aguirre made three changes from the starting line-up that repelled the Canadian assault in the semi-finals on Thursday. In came Luis Romo, Cesar Montes and Cesar Huerta to make a three-pronged attack signalling a more offensive approach.
Panama’s Thomas Christiansen made just one change, starting last gasp goal scoring hero Cecilio Waterman ahead of Jose Fajardo.
Panama opened with more ambition than they had shown in the first 90 minutes against the USA, and in the 6th minute peppered the Mexican goal with Waterman in particualr putting his body on the line before Mexico scrambled the ball away.
Even so, it was Mexico who drew first blood. Roberto Alvarado, a persistent menace on the right hand side, crossed the ball to an unmarked Raul Jimenez for the simplest of headers to add to the brace he scored against Canada in the semi-finals on Thursday.
Panama were up for the scrap and with their tight midfield and Adelberto Carrasquilla at the heart of it, took the play to Mexico. In the 17th minute a Carasquilla driven free kick on the left only needed the slightest of touches but Angel Malagon gathered confidently in the Mexican goal.
Santiago Gimenez almost had his name on the scoresheet on 25 minutes but shot over the bar, while on 40 minutes Panama should have equalised after a cross across the box was missed by two attackers at the back post.
A minute later Jose Rodriguez forced a superb save from Malagon.
With three minutes left in the half Panama were level. VAR called play back for a suspected foul on Cecelio Waterman in the Mexico box. Calling the referee to the pitchside monitor, he eventually pointed to the spot. Carrasquilla stepped up to send the ball down the middle and past Malagon diving to his right – 1-1 at half time and all to play for.
The second half saw Mexico immediately stamo their authority with the bulk of possession but their bustle couldn’t break the impressive Mosquera in Panama’s goal.
With chances hard to come by, challenges were fierce and tempers just about contained.
On the hour Christiansen brought on Jose Fajardo for Waterman. Within a minute he had fired from distance over Malagon’s goal.
Aguirre refreshed his line-up with Alexis Vega up front and Luis Chavez in midfield. Mexico pushed and probed but couldn’t find the gap to test Mosquera whose terrier-like defence snapped at ankles and closed gaps down. In the 73rd minute Gimenez headed into Mosquera’s hands – Panama had all bases covered, though their attack was now based on the long ball counter.
On 82’ the first puto chant was heard and play suspended. Suddenly a mix of nervousness and anxiety gripped the stadium.
Play resumed after the break and Mexico continued their dominance of the attack. On 88’ they were rewarded with a penalty. José Córdoba handballed in the area. Jimenez stepped up, stopped twice on his way the ball, before eventually hammering it past Mosquera.
Such was the atmosphere it would have been a brave referee to order the penalty to be retaken. It should have been.
Mexico played out the six minutes of added time without incident to carve their name on to the trophy. A political and football statement if ever there was one.
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