Fulham forward Raul Jimenez played 75 minutes as Mexico moved into the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Glendale, Arizona, earlier this morning.

The defending champions eventually broke down an obdurate Saudi Arabian defence four minutes into the second half and Jimenez, who has been in fine form for his country of late, create the crucial opening. The striker’s clever pass put Vega in the clear and, although goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi saved the Toluca striker’s first effort, he followed up to put El Tri ahead from twelve yards.

Tournament debutants Saudi Arabia, invited by CONCACAF a year ahead of the World Cup, were in the game until nine minutes from time when Matteo Chavez’s cross from the left was turned past his own goalkeeper by the luckless Madu.

Mexico will play Honduras, who beat Panama on penalties earlier in the day, in Santa Clara on Wednesday.