Raul Jimenez brace leads Mexico to win over Canada as El Tri book CONCACAF Champions League final date with Panama after Canaleros' USMNT upset

LOS ANGELES - Following Panama’s stunning upset over the U.S. in the earlier CONCACAF Nations League semifinal, there were no surprises in Mexico vs. Canada, as El Tri secured a comfortable 2-0 win.

Mexico wasted no time seizing control, striking just 45 seconds in. Raul Jimenez found himself through on goal and coolly chipped past Dayne St. Clair to give his team a lead they would never relinquish.

Canada had their moments, but any hopes of a comeback vanished with another piece of Jimenez magic. The Fulham striker sealed the victory in the 75th minute with a perfectly-struck free kick, securing Mexico’s place in Sunday’s final in front of a Mexican partisan crowd at SoFi Stadium.

It's a massive victory for Mexico, who will now push to lift the CONCACAF Nations League trophy for the first time. They've lost twice in the final to the USMNT, who have won each of the previous three iterations of this new tournament.

The win, too, will build spirit under coach Javier Aguirre, who was brought back in for a third stint in charge of El Tri in an effort to rebuild this team's spirit following a premature exit from last summer's Copa America.

As for Canada, the loss will feel like a setback after their own strong run last summer. Canada made it all the way to the tournament semis before falling to eventual winners Argentina, eventually earning fourth place after a shootout loss to Uruguay in the third-place game.

If Mexico are able to defeat Panama in the finale, they'll lift a second trophy since 2019, a relative drought by their standards. Their last win came in the Gold Cup that year. Aguirre, meanwhile, has one trophy on his Mexico resume, having lifted the Gold Cup back in 2009.

With the win, El Tri will now take on Panama, who stunned the USMNT 1-0 on a last-gasp winner from Cecelio Waterman. Canada, meanwhile, will face the USMNT earlier in the day in the third-place game.