Mexico moved to first place of the CONCACAF Hexagonal as they produced a confident display to win 2-0 over Costa Rica.
Mexico were on top from the opening minutes, with Costa Rica sitting deep and seeing very little of the ball.
El Tri needed just seven minutes to go in front. The goal came when Carlos Vela sent a pass into the path of Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who got a clever touch on the ball to send his shot past Keylor Navas for Mexico’s breakthrough.
The goal was Chicharito’s 46th with the Mexico National team, leveling him with Jared Borgetti as Mexico’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Costa Rica tried to respond, and with 13 minutes on the clock, Francisco Calvo came close to drawing the score after forcing Guillermo Ochoa to a superb save.
Mexico was almost on the mark again when Carlos Vela sent Navas into a diving save.
Despite taking the early lead, Mexico were finding it increasingly difficult to get on the ball. But just when the match seemed to be heading 1-0 at the break, Nestor Araujo added to Mexico’s lead. The Santos Laguna defender appeared unattended to head home a Carlos Vela corner for the 2-0.
In the second half, Mexico boss Juan Carlos Osorio was forced into a change when the injured Chicharito was replaced by Raul Jimenez.
And Jimenez missed a rare second-half chance for Mexico when a Jurgen Damm cross found the Benfica striker, whose shot went well wide with no goalkeeper in net.
Costa Rica gave Mexico very little to think about in the final minutes of the game as El Tri held on comfortably to go top of the Hex.
Next, El Tri travel to Trinidad and Tobago to take on “The Soca Warriors” on Tuesday.