CARSON Making good on expectations, Mexico's U-23 team pounded 7-1 Trinidad and Tobago Friday night to begin the Olympic Qualifying tournament.
But the win came with a high cost: Four of Mexico's players were injured and it was uncertain that they would be able to play against Honduras in the second match on Sunday.
Mexico was in first place in Group B after Friday's match, played at the Home Depot Center. That's because Mexico had more goals than Honduras, which earlier beat Panama 3-1.
Mexican fans jammed the stadium and had a lot to celebrate on Friday.
The first score came from a corner kick. At minute 28, forward Alan Pulido took advantage that goalie Andre Marchan left the box to merely tap the ball into the net and get Mexico on the board.
"El Tri" was far from finished, though, in showing its superiority on the field. At minute 33, midfielder Marco Fabián sent a header into the net after receiving an excellent pass from Californian Miguel Ponce.
In the second half, at minute 51, Diego Reyes scored the third goal after Trinidad's goalie again left the box.
Fabián scored his second goal of the night at minute 68 after receiving a pass from Javier Cortés.
The "golazo" of the night came at minute 73, when Israel Jiménez returned a free kick directly into the left side of the net.
At minute 84, Fabián signed his hat trick, scoring his third goal, taking advantage of another error by goalie Marchan, who dropped the ball in the area so all the midfielder had to do was push it toward the net.
Trinidad and Tobago got on the board at minute 87, on a goal by Kevin Molino.
And to seal Mexico's win, Cortés scored at minute 89, to end the match 7-1.
The Mexican team expected to win this game easily and now must face Honduras on Sunday in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifier.
In a press conference after the game, Tena acknowledged the injuries his team had sustained.
"Regrettably, we ended up with players who were hit," he said.
They were Cortés, Javier Aquino, Néstor Calderón and David Cabrera, who will be evaluated by the medical staff to see when they can return to action.
Two of the players had to leave the game as a result of the hits they received from their opponents. Aquino, who plays for Cruz Azul in the First Division, left the stadium limping during the post-game interviews.
Tena, for his part, said that Friday's convincing win notwithstanding, he considered Honduras the toughest opponent in the group.
"Honduras is a very solid team, with people very capable in the attack," he said. "It will definitely be a very different game than tonight's."
alexandra.mendoza@sandiegored.com
