Internationals | Jimenez goal secures Mexico victory

19th November 2020

Raul Jimenez made it two goals in as many games for Mexico during the international break, after setting his country on their way to another friendly victory.

Mexico faced Japan in Austria on Tuesday evening, having overcome South Korea at the weekend, a game which Jimenez scored an equaliser to turn the fixture in his side’s favour, and the Wolves number nine was back among the goals once again.

With the game still goalless after an hour, Jimenez picked the ball up on the left before a one-two saw the forward race into the Japan penalty area and after regaining the ball, he fired an effort inside the near post to give his side the lead.

That goal gave Mexico the boost they needed to take the win, with Hirving Lozano adding a second goal for El Tri just four minutes later to secure the 2-0 win.

Nuestro #LoboMexicano en 2020 con @miseleccionmx

4⃣Partidos
3⃣Goles ⚽️⚽️⚽️
2⃣Asistencias 🅰️🅰️

¡Crack @Raul_Jimenez9! 🐺🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/YMkdzQH2wo
— Wolves Español (@WolvesEspanol) November 17, 2020

Tuesday was a busy day for Wolves’ internationals with Jimenez among six players to feature for their national teams.

Three of those appearances came for Portugal, as Rui Patricio, Nelson Semedo – who put in a man of the match performance for his country – and Joao Moutinho all started the 3-2 Nations League win over Croatia.

With Portugal unable to reach the finals of the competition regardless of the result, the side fell behind ahead of the break, but following a sending off for Marko Rog, Portugal capitalised with three second-half goals.

Patricio, Semedo and Moutinho played the full 90 minutes in the win, while Pedro Neto and Ruben Neves – who didn’t play a minute for Portugal this week – were both unused substitutes.

A pair of Wolves defenders, Romain Saiss and Willy Boly, also featured for their countries in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying action on Tuesday afternoon.

Saiss once again captained Morocco to a 2-0 win over the Central African Republic to extend their lead at the top of Group E to five points, while Boly and the Ivory Coast could only draw 1-1 on their travels to Madagascar.

The two sides are now tied at the top of Group K, with the Ivorians currently ahead on goal difference ahead of the final two qualifying fixtures which are due to take place in March 2021.

Back in Europe, Adama Traore was an unused substitute as Spain thrashed Germany 6-0 in Seville to qualify for the Nations League finals next October.

On Wednesday, Leander Dendoncker was in action for Belgium as they secured their place in next year’s Nations League finals with a win over Denmark.

Having been left out of the squad for their game against England at the weekend, Dendoncker was back in the starting line-up, and helped his country get off to a flying start by setting up Leicester’s Youri Tielemans for the opening goal after just three minutes. A 4-2 scoreline was enough for Belgium to reach the finals at the expense of their opponents.

In youth action on Wednesday was Vitinha, who similarly to his Wolves midfield teammate was helping to set up his country’s goals with one assist on the night in Portugal under-21’s 2-1 win over the Netherlands.

A qualificação para o Euro 2021 chegou ao fim com mais uma grande vitória portuguesa.🇵🇹

Parabéns, @vitinha_20!👏🐺

📷@selecaoportugal pic.twitter.com/KGcYOWumqK
— Wolves Português (@WolvesPRT) November 18, 2020

That victory left Portugal second in their 2021 Euro U21 qualifying group, behind the Netherlands on goal difference, but enough to seal their place in next year’s finals as the highest ranking group runner-up.

Wolves internationals November results

Patricio, Semedo, Neves, Moutinho, Neto (Portugal): UEFA Nations League group stages