What a goal!

Published 12:21 am Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Some goals are memorable for their sheer brilliance — a 30-yard bomb from Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi finishing a dazzling display of passing.

Some goals are memorable for their importance and timeliness — Landon Donovan’s winner over Algeria in the 2010 World Cup or Sergio Aguero’s title-clincher for Manchester City in 2012.

On Friday, Raul Jimenez scored a goal for the ages, one that combined all the skill and technical ability of a golazo with the significance of preventing the possible calamity of Mexico missing the World Cup.

In a game El Tri desperately needed to win, playing at the famed Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Panama pulled level with Mexico in the 81st minute. The two teams entered the match tied on points, fighting for the final World Cup qualifying spot. A tie would help Panama more than Mexico.

In the 83rd minute, 22-year-old Jimenez came on for Jesus Zavala. Five minutes later, the youngster scored the goal of his life.

Jimenez received a pass from Fernando Arce with his back to the goal just inside the 18-yard box. With his first touch he popped the ball into the air. His second was simply breathtaking.

With the incredibly immense pressure of an entire nation, including 90,000 fans breathing down on him, Jimenez attempted a shot that few would even bother trying in a pick-up game at the park.

As the ball hung in the air for what seemed like hours, Jimenez executed a stunning bicycle kick, contorting his body with such torque and striking the ball so perfectly that it whizzed into lower left corner of the goal before Panama goalie Jaime Penedo knew what happened.

For El Tri, it was pure bliss. From the horrors of facing the unimaginable, on the brink of elimination from the 2014 World Cup, Jimenez had the nerve to pull off one of the most difficult skills in any sport.

It was a truly remarkable goal, one that can be appreciated by anyone, whether a soccer fan or a not.

The goal helped Mexico to a 2-1 victory, sending the soccer mad nation into a frenzy. Perhaps most relieved was national icon Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who poorly missed a penalty in the 58th minute.

El Tri now have a firm grasp on the fourth and final qualifying position, which involves going through a home-and-home playoff with New Zealand (the top three go straight to Brazil). With 11 points, Mexico just needs a draw at second-place Costa Rica in the qualifying finale tonight to move on. El Tri could possibly catch third-place Honduras (14 points), but given Los Catrachos play last-place Jamaica in Kingston, locking up a trip to Brazil will likely include two matches with the All Whites.

What’s important is that Mexico controls its own destiny. Panama hosts the United States, which has already locked up first place in the group. The Americans have little to play for, though plenty of players are looking to impress coach Jurgen Klinsmann in the final non-friendly before World Cup 2014. Only a win and a Mexico loss will do for Los Canaleros.

All three games tonight begin at 8:30 p.m. The U.S. game is on beIN SPORT while Mexico’s match will be televised by Telemundo.

SOCCER SNIPPETS:

ENGLAND’S HOPES: Another country that ensured it controls its World Cup destiny on Friday was England, which turned in an impressive 4-1 win over Montenegro. The Three Lions now can book a trip to Brazil with a win this afternoon against Poland (2 p.m. on FOX Sports 1).

A tie or a loss, however, likely sends England into one of four UEFA playoffs among teams that finished second in their groups. The match is one of the highlights of what should be a thrilling day of World Cup qualifying.

FC DALLAS BURNED: After a scorching start to the season — one loss in the first 11 games — FC Dallas was officially knocked out of playoff contention with its 3-2 loss to the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Though Kenny Cooper showed some fight with two goals after Dallas fell behind 3-0, it was a disappointing end following a promising beginning.

As an aside, I like that these two teams still play for the Brimstone Cup, even if Dallas is no longer called the Burn. The Fire won the cup for the second straight year after Dallas had held it for a full decade.