|
|
Played
June 5, 2011 8:00 PM EDT
Cowboys Stadium — Arlington, Texas
Referee: E. Wijngaarde
Attendance: 80108
June 5, 2011 8:00 PM EDT
Cowboys Stadium — Arlington, Texas
Referee: E. Wijngaarde
Attendance: 80108
Top of the Match
Chicharito
Mexico
Mexico
Chicharito
Mexico
Mexico
Flop of the Match
Miguel Ángel Montes Moreno
El Salvador
El Salvador
Marvin González
El Salvador
El Salvador
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Mexico crushes El Salvador as Chicharito nets a hat trick in Gold Cup opener
After a slow first half, Mexico came alive after halftime and put in five goals against El Salvador at Cowboys Stadium. Chicharito recorded a hat trick.
-
Watch CONCACAF Gold Cup™ USA v Canada, Tuesday 6/7 live at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX Soccer! For a complete match schedule, click here
Old memories showered over those who watched Mexico dismantle the United States in the 2009 final on the first day of this year's Gold Cup.
This time, however, it was El Salvador that suffered the wrath.
After a frustrating first half that left very little positivity amongst fans, El Tri came out firing in the second half and destroyed El Salvador with a full offensive arsenal in a 5-0 victory in the spectacular Cowboys Stadium.
Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez recorded a hat trick for Mexico in front of over 80,000 fans, many of whom were there to see the CONCACAF region's best-known player.
Despite being ineffective in front of the net in the first half, the Mexicans quickly got on the board in the second half as Efrain Juarez shouldered the ball in after having his initial shot blocked by Miguel Montes.
That opened the floodgates. The next 12 minutes delivered three more goals for Mexico.
Aldo de Nigris put his team up two with a combo of skill and luck as he attacked three El Salvador defenders before putting the ball past Montes. Chicharito followed that up with a header past Montes in the 60th minute.
Six minutes later, Chicharito continued to pour it on El Salvador after a great combination. The Manchester United striker took a long pass behind the defense and was able to slot the ball past Montes to continue the rout.
Despite falling to 10 men due to Pablo Barrera's cramping in the 82nd minute after all three subs had been completed, Mexico still was able to score the fifth goal of the match.
Hernandez had one more in him after he took a great pass in the area and was brought down by Marvin Gonzalez. A penalty kick ensued, which Hernandez took almost disrespectfully by flicking the ball over Montes softly, as the El Salvador man dove to his right.
Mexico earned three points in Group A with two more matches left in group play. It will face Cuba this Thursday in Charlotte, N.C.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match- Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EDT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chicharito
Striker Mexico |
7 | 1 |
|
Rodolfo Zelaya
Striker El Salvador |
4 | 1 |
|
A. De Nigris
Striker Mexico |
4 | 0 |
|
Clint Dempsey
Midfielder USA |
3 | 0 |
|
Giovani dos Santos
Striker Mexico |
3 | 0 |