Raúl Jiménez Goal Ignites Mexico in Gold Cup Classic

Raúl Jiménez goal celebrations took center stage on a steamy night in Inglewood, propelling Mexico to a pulsating 3-2 extra-time triumph over the United States in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker, wearing El Tri’s iconic No. 9, equalised in the 28th minute and immediately flashed Diogo Jota’s trademark “archer” celebration toward the capacity crowd, paying homage to his former Wolves strike partner and close friend.

Raúl Jiménez goal changes the mood after early setback

The match had begun ominously for Mexico. Folarin Balogun put the USMNT ahead after just seven minutes, capitalising on a defensive lapse by César Montes. Yet the deficit only seemed to sharpen Jiménez’s instincts. Lurking on the shoulder of Tim Ream, the 33-year-old peeled away to meet Uriel Antuna’s low cross and buried a first-time finish past Matt Turner. The Raúl Jiménez goal not only levelled the scoreline but also silenced a partisan American crowd and reminded everyone why the veteran remains one of North America’s premier finishers.

Why the Diogo Jota tribute matters

The quick bow-and-arrow gesture was more than a flashy move. Jiménez and Jota forged a potent partnership at Wolves before a horrific head injury sidelined the Mexican in 2020. In the years since, the two have shared messages of support, and Jota famously dedicated a goal to Jiménez while he was in recovery. By borrowing Jota’s celebration on such a grand stage, Jiménez closed a meaningful circle and highlighted the fraternity that transcends club and national allegiances.

Midfield battle tips in El Tri’s favour

Gregg Berhalter deployed a muscular midfield trio of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna to press high and disrupt Mexico’s build-up. For half an hour it worked, but after the Raúl Jiménez goal, Edson Álvarez and Luis Chávez began to dictate tempo. Álvarez’s aggression shielded the back line, while Chávez’s diagonal switches stretched the American press. The pendulum had swung, and Mexico’s wide players suddenly found acres of space.

Second-half drama and extra-time heroics

Memo Ochoa produced two vintage stops from Christian Pulisic before Santiago Giménez nodded Mexico in front after 64 minutes, only for Ricardo Pepi to force extra time with an acrobatic volley in the 89th. In the added period, substitute Diego Lainez danced past Antonee Robinson and drew a clumsy foul inside the area. Up stepped Jiménez again, ice-cold from the spot, but Turner guessed correctly and parried. Redemption arrived three minutes later when Lainez’s low drive was spilled, and Jiménez pounced to square for Orbelín Pineda, who thundered home the winner.

The tactical tweaks behind Jiménez’s brilliance

Diego Cocca started with a 4-3-3 but shifted to a 3-4-2-1 after halftime, freeing Raúl Jiménez to drift into half-spaces rather than act as a traditional target man. The adjustment pulled Ream and Chris Richards out of position, creating the channels that led to both the second and third Mexican goals. The Raúl Jiménez goal that opened Mexico’s account was clinical; his movement thereafter was cerebral, reflecting a striker who has evolved beyond mere poacher into a complete offensive fulcrum.

Stat line tells only half the story

• Shots: USA 14, Mexico 11
• Expected Goals (xG): USA 1.9, Mexico 2.6
• Touches in opposition box: USA 24, Mexico 30
• Raúl Jiménez goal attempts: 4 (2 on target)

Jiménez’s numbers were impressive, but his intangible impact—pressing angles, decoy runs, vocal leadership—proved decisive.

What it means for Mexico and the USMNT

For El Tri, reclaiming the Gold Cup after falling short in 2023 restores a sense of continental supremacy. Cocca’s side will take momentum into World Cup qualifying, where the Raúl Jiménez goal threat remains non-negotiable. For the United States, back-to-back final defeats against their fiercest rivals invite searching questions, particularly about defensive depth and finishing efficiency.

Player reactions

Jiménez on Jota tribute: “Diogo was there for me during the toughest spell of my career. This was my way of saying ‘thank you’ on a night that meant everything.”
Pulisic: “We created enough to win, but fair play to Mexico—they punished our mistakes.”

Looking ahead

Mexico face Germany in a glamour friendly next month, where Cocca will likely experiment with a dual-striker system featuring Jiménez and Giménez. The USMNT travel to Qatar for the Nations League, desperate to rediscover their clinical edge.

Opinion: A vintage Raúl Jiménez goal and lasting legacy

Jiménez’s journey is the stuff of football folklore: grisly skull fracture, painstaking rehab, nagging doubts, and now a match-winning performance on the game’s biggest regional stage. The Raúl Jiménez goal that drew Mexico level was vintage in execution and rich in symbolism, proving that resilience paired with elite technique can rewrite any narrative. His public salute to Diogo Jota underlined a truth often lost amid rivalry taunts: football is, at its core, a brotherhood. If this final taught us anything, it’s that class—in finishing and in friendship—remains permanent.