Fulham striker Raul Jimenez was in superb form on Thursday night to secure a CONCACAF Nations League final spot for his national side Mexico.
The veteran striker has been a reliable threat for the Cottagers this season, scoring 10 Premier League goals in 29 appearances and scoring two more across cup competitions.
The 33-year-old is a consistent striker at Premier League level even in his later years, and he remains just as dangerous on the international stage, netting twice on Thursday night.
Mexico took on former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch’s new Canada side in the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals in the breath-taking SoFi Stadium that usually hosts LA Rams and LA Chargers, while it has already hosted a Super Bowl. They didn’t know it at the time, but the winner of the semi-final would get a huge opportunity to lift silverware due to the fact Panama stunned USA in the other semi-final.
Mexico raced into an early lead within a minute when Jimenez put together an unstoppable-looking run through the middle, receiving the ball and slotting home perfectly.
Minutes later, Canada were denied what looked like a certain penalty, and still with a one-goal advantage, Mexico, and specifically Jimenez, put the Canucks to bed in the second half.
Jimenez produced a stunning free-kick, scoring directly, in the 75th minute, and that was that. Mexico march on to the Sunday night’s final with Panama, which will also be at SoFi Stadium.
Diario AS’s Mexico edition wrote: “Raul Jimenez established himself as one of the most important goalscorers in the history of the Mexico national team, while also being in the top five of the net-breakers. Today, his goal against Canada comes amid 12 continuous years with El Tri, something no other Mexican player has to their name.”
Raul will be looking to continue his excellent form in the final on Sunday night, and indeed next weekend when Fulham take on Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter-finals, hoping to secure a trip to Wembley.