Raul Jimenez saves Mexico's World Cup hopes but 'Tata' Martino needs to maximize talent to get off hot seat

On paper, there isn't anything especially noteworthy about a 1-0 home win for Mexico over Panama on Wednesday night. In every World Cup qualifying match at home against the Central Americans (in 2000, 2005, 2013, 2017 and now 2022), El Tri have always walked away with a victory.

But in a near-empty Estadio Azteca, three points against Panama proved to be the most important so far in the tenure of Mexico men's national team manager Gerardo «Tata» Martino.

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He had to win. Anything less would have likely cost his job.

Losses to the United States and Canada in November's Octagonal qualifiers, along with bitter losses in the Gold Cup and Nations League finals to the U.S. in 2021, meant Martino had no room for mistakes. Before the start of the latest international break, FMF president Yon de Luisa gave his support to El Tri's coach but «no guarantees» about his future. Seven points were laid out as the goal that would make the FMF content in the three-game run.

A positive start to the break was earned with a 2-1 away win over Jamaica in a qualifier last Thursday, before a dismal 0-0 draw with Costa Rica at the Azteca on Sunday ultimately brought Martino back to square one. Already in a tenuous position at third in the qualifying table, a loss to Panama would have meant a move down to fourth place in the table and out of a direct spot for the World Cup.

And for almost the entirety of Wednesday's match, that appeared to be a possibility.

Panama were the better side in the early stages of the match. Led by manager Thomas Christiansen, Los Canaleros