Fútbol Americano
Tom Marshall | ESPN FC 7y

'Chicharito' makes history as Mexico goes top of Hex with Costa Rica victory

MEXICO CITY -- Three thoughts from an historic night for Mexican football, as Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez levels Jared Borgetti's Mexico scoring record in El Tri's 2-0 victory over Costa Rica. The win moves Mexico into first place in the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

1. Hernandez's historic night

Hernandez hadn't scored a goal for the Mexico national team in nine months, but Friday was served up as the perfect opportunity. Borgetti struck 46 times for El Tri in 89 appearances and there was a neat and eerie symmetry that Hernandez reached the 46-goal mark in his 89th game.

Two-time World Cup venue Estadio Azteca and a key World Cup qualifier also provided a perfect backdrop, rather than Hernandez doing it in a friendly in the United States or in Trinidad and Tobago next Tuesday.

Former Chivas youth-team teammate Carlos Vela threaded a perfectly weighted pass to Hernandez in the seventh minute to put the striker through on goal with only the onrushing Keylor Navas to beat. With little time to react, Hernandez stretched to lift the ball over his former Real Madrid teammate and friend and level Borgetti.

Mayhem ensued. The meaning of the goal was there for all to see, as Hernandez celebrated wildly and his teammates charged to congratulate him. The crowd in the renovated Azteca responded on a night that also served to reconnect fans with a stadium that had become a bit of a burden, with El Tri only winning one in five matches during the Hexagonal stage of qualifying for Russia 2018.

That Hernandez started the game on the left-wing with Oribe Peralta upfront appeared perplexing, but it only took minutes for his innate awareness of space and signature darting runs in between defenders to make sense. By the time Costa Rica had worked it out, Hernandez had scored the vital opening goal to destroy the Ticos' hopes of sitting back in their 5-4-1 formation, playing on any nervousness from Mexico and taking advantage through counter-attacks.

The only negative was Hernandez exiting in the 67th minute with an apparent injury, which will worry both El Tri coach Juan Carlos Osorio and his club team Bayer Leverkusen.

Hernandez's status as a Mexico legend was already sealed way before the match vs. Costa Rica, but Friday was a vivid reminder of the importance he holds for the Mexican game.

2. Vela lights it up in El Tri attack

When Real Sociedad's Vela plays to the level he did in the first half, the ceiling of possibilities for the Mexico national team rises. He is that special, even if the inconsistency and refusal to play for El Tri for a couple of years means he isn't held in the highest regard among Mexico supporters. When the names were read out ahead of kickoff, it was naturally Rafael Marquez and Hernandez who got the biggest cheer.

There is a nonchalant arrogance about Vela that can frustrate when he isn't on song, but that lulls you in, seduces you and makes you dream when he is ready to pounce.

His pass to Hernandez in the seventh minute changed the game, handing energy to the Mexican crowd and subduing the over 5,000-strong contingent that had traveled from Costa Rica. He then took over the reins of the game, crossing to hand Peralta a decent chance in the 25th minute and toying with the Costa Rica defense at times in the opening period.

It is difficult to overestimate just how key keeping Vela happy and motivated is to Mexico's chances at the next World Cup. Vela may or may not feel like he has a debt to Mexico fans for his no-show for so long, but performances like the one on Friday -- especially in the first half -- are signs that he is keen to pay it off.

3. Costa Rica disappoints due to Mexico's superiority

The Costa Rican invasion was real. Traveling fans had caps with "second Aztecazo" on the front. The Ticos were making all the noise as the teams came out to warm up and there was a sense from the fans of the Central American nation that they'd be heading back south with three points and the lead in Hexagonal qualifying.

Where did it go wrong? Basically, Mexico was too good. Osorio talked before the game about the respect he has for the Ticos, but also stressed that player-for-player Mexico is stronger. And it showed on Friday.

Mexico came out in a 4-3-3 formation and it quickly clicked. Jonathan dos Santos -- in for the injured Andres Guardado -- flew around providing energy in the midfield, while Peralta worked hard to hold the ball upfront and Hernandez and Vela lurked menacingly on the wings.

The timing of the first goal took the wind out of Costa Rica and while it had moments in the first half, Nestor Araujo's second on the stroke of half-time hurt any momentum the visitor could muster.

In the second half, El Tri's game management was very good. Jurgen Damm came off the bench and owned the right-wing when Mexico countered, while Costa Rica created very little at a time when the Ticos needed to chase the game at 2-0 down.

Mexico's back four of Carlos Salcedo, Araujo, Hector Moreno and Miguel Layun deserve much credit and El Tri under Osorio is becoming a very efficient and well-oiled unit.

Osorio's job was on the line when El Tri lost 7-0 last summer to Chile in the Copa America, but things seem very different now. Mexico can look ahead to Tuesday's trip to the Caribbean, June's qualifiers against Honduras and the U.S. and the Confederations Cup with plenty of belief and confidence.

Tom Marshall covers Liga MX and the Mexican national team for ESPN FC.
Twitter: @MexicoWorldCup.

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