Javier Hernandez scored a hat-trick as a rampant Mexico crushed El Salvador 5-0 in front of 80,000 fans at Cowboys Stadium in their Gold Cup opener on Sunday.
After a goalless first half, the Mexicans scored four goals inside 12 minutes early in the second and sent out a clear message they will not surrender their CONCACAF crown without a fight.
Hernandez’s goals were hardly among the classiest he will score, but they were another reminder that the 23-year-old, who scored 20 goals in all competitions in his debut season for Manchester United, is becoming one of the sharpest poachers around.
Photo: EPA
It was also the perfect gift for the massive Mexican-American crowd that turned out to welcome El Tri to Texas.
“Its unbelievable the support that we have from Mexicans who live here,” Hernandez told reporters. “You can see it here — 80,000 people and most of them in green shirts and it means a lot to us. The most important thing for me is the three points. I don’t care if I score, sometimes I won’t — the main thing is we won.”
Hernandez and Mexico should have found their way on to the scoresheet in the first half, but they looked hurried and anxious in front of goal. However, once the first goal went in they never looked back.
Photo: AFP
Efrain Juarez got the breakthrough in the 55th minute with a slightly fortunate goal. Giovani dos Santos broke down the right and slipped the ball into the path of Juarez, whose shot came out off El Salvador goalkeeper Miguel Montes, but ricocheted home off Suarez’s head.
Then Aldo De Nigris doubled the advantage with a bustling effort three minutes later, working past two defenders before firing home.
Hernandez headed home a cross from Andres Guardado to make it three and the striker delighted the massive Mexican support with a fourth in the 67th minute — albeit with a scuffed shot.
El Salvador’s defense was ripped open far too easily and their coach Ruben Israel will have a tough job to get his team to bounce back for their next game in Group A against Costa Rica on Thursday.
In the final minute, Hernandez was brought down in the area by Marvin Gonzalez, who was sent off, and the little forward rose to convert the spot-kick.
He did so with the coolest and cheekiest of chips, signing off with a clear signal of his confidence.
Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre seemed determined to follow Hernandez’s club coach Alex Ferguson in trying to keep his striker’s feet on the ground.
“He had the fortune to score three, but as a result of team play. That’s what forwards are there to do,” he said.
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