Jimenez wonder goal keeps Mexico in the hunt
Spectacular late strike against Panama gives Mexico hope of making play-offs to reach 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil
Mexico needed a spectacular Raul Jimenez goal in the 85th minute to beat Panama 2-1 on Friday and revive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup. “What a spectacular goal, really beautiful and above all very emotional,” Victor Manuel Vucetich said after his first match as Mexico coach.
Standing near the top of the penalty area, Jimenez received a long pass from Fernando Arce with his back to goal, used his right foot to knock the ball about a dozen feet in the air and lashed in a powerful overhead kick than arrowed just inside the post and left Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo frozen to the spot.
“My initial intention was to hit it low, but then I had to improvise going in the air,” Jimenez said. “It was a last-resort type of thing.”
The result moved Mexico into fourth place in Concacaf qualifying, three points ahead of Panama and three points behind third-placed Honduras with one game to play.
The top three teams qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the fourth team face an intercontinental play-off against New Zealand.
In the last round of games, Honduras are away to already-eliminated Jamaica and need only a draw to secure a World Cup berth, while Mexico are away to Costa Rica and Panama host the United States. Both Costa Rica and the US have already qualified for Brazil 2014.