🏆 Mexico crowned Nations League champions; Canada pip USA to third place | OneFootball

The Concacaf Nations League came to its conclusion Sunday evening in Southern California.

Here is what went down.

Mexico secure the trophy with late win over Panama

Scorers: Jiménez 8', 89' (P) ; Carrasquilla 45+2' (P)

Thanks to a Raul Jiménez brace, Mexico were crowned Nations League champions with a late win over Panama

With a partizan crowd behind them, Mexico took an early lead through the head of Raúl Jiménez, whose eighth minute header saw hime move level at third in the all-time Mexican national team scoring ranks.

Mexico perhaps should have found a second goal before the break after a period of sustained pressure, but they were undone in first-half stoppage-time when Panama was awarded a penalty-kick for a Johan Vásquez challenge in the box — Coco Carrasquilla dispatched with aplomb.

It was a game where penalties swung the pendulum however, as Panama gave away a ludicrous penalty in the dying minutes when José Córdoba handled the ball in the box.

Raúl Jiménez stepped up and continued his red-hot form with the winning penalty just before second-half stoppage-time.

Canada pip rivals USA to earn third place

Scorers: Agyemang 35' ; Oluwaseyi 27', David 59'

Canada earned third place at this year's edition of the Nations League with a narrow victory over the United States.

While it was a disjointed start from both sides, the Canadians were the certainly the side in the supremacy as they made their way into dangerous areas on a number of occasions.

They were finally rewarded before the half-hour mark when Minnesota United forward Tani Oluwaseyi stabbed home from point-blank range after a scramble in the box, giving Jesse Marsch's side a deserved lead.

The U.S. responded well however, and it was more production from MLS players as Diego Luna found Patrick Agyemang in the six-yard box, and the Charlotte striker found the back of the net to level the score.

It remained tight after the break, but Canada's top-end quality shone around the hour-mark when Jonathan David showed why he is one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe with a clinical finish to reclaim the lead for Canada.

The U.S. probed to find a leveler in the dying minutes, but they hardly threatened, a pattern throughout the last two matches for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

The victory means Canada have beat the United States in back-to-back matches for the first time since 1985.

📸 FREDERIC J. BROWN - AFP or licensors