Jimenez, Mexico spoil De Boer's Dutch debut in deserved win

Raul Jimenez netted from the penalty spot to help Mexico to a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Wednesday, with Memphis Depay hitting the crossbar from close range with minutes left as the home side pushed for the leveler.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers player won the penalty after a slight touch from Manchester City defender Nathan Ake as Jimenez was about to shoot, with the 29-year-old calmly slotting in on the hour mark.

Mexico had enjoyed the better chances and shaded possession in Frank de Boer's first match as Netherlands head coach, with the European side using the game as preparation for upcoming Nations League clashes against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy.

Mexico coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino sent out a largely experienced team and El Tri caused the Netherlands problems early on with its high pressing.

"I think we played well. For an hour, I think we played really well. We had quite a lot of control over the game, we were connecting well. We thought we'd suffer at some point and that came in the last 15 minutes," Martino said. 

"I think we deserved to win but we didn't deserve to thrash them. We could've got a second goal, but they could've equalized as well."

Jimenez pulled a relatively easy chance wide of goal in the 12th minute, after Jesus Gallardo robbed the ball from Hans Hateboer just outside the penalty area to send the Wolves player through on goal.

Jimenez spawned another half-chance in the 34th, while for the Depay was the most dangerous player for the home side.

Depay turned Edson Alvarez and won a free-kick on the edge of the area in the 21st, which deflected over the bar, and played a through-ball for Ryan Babbel to shoot wide five minutes later.

The Dutch side pushed hard for a later equalizer and almost got it when Luuk de Jong forced a sharp save from Mexico keeper Alfredo Talavera, before Depay struck the crossbar from the rebound with the goal gaping.

De Boer had picked a fairly strong team for the Netherlands, with Depay playing the full 90 minutes, Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum contributing, and Manchester United's Donny van de Beek also completing the match.

"It's always disappointing to lose but it was best not to play our strongest team," De Boer told Dutch television.

"But we started poorly, made too many unnecessary mistakes and didn't get into our own game. Of course we can do better."