LOS ANGELES: In expected domination, Costa Rica and Mexico opened their 2011 Gold Cup campaign's with respective thrashings of their opponents. Mexico's Javier Hernandez netted a hat trick, while Costa Rica looked like seasoned professions in dispatching Cuba. Marco Urena scored in the seventh minute and again in the 46th, helping Costa Rica to a 5-0 victory over Cuba in the opening match for both teams at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Costa Rica improved to 4-0 against Cuba in the Gold Cup. “We're starting a new tournament, getting to know each other on the field,” Costa Rica coach Ricardo La Volpe said. “The opponent is also important to take into consideration.” Christian Bolanos set up Urena's first goal, streaking down the left flank and crossing a pass that Urena redirected into the right corner of the net from inside 10 yards. Alvaro Saborio gave Costa Rica a 2-0 lead just before halftime with a goal in the 41st minute. Bolanos also assisted on Saborio's goal with a looping volley from inside midfield. “Costa Rica was superior,” Cuba coach Raul Gonzalez said. “We have a national team going through transition.” Hernandez scored three times Sunday night and Mexico relied on its stingy defense to rout El Salvador 5-0 in the opening match for both teams at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. “The most important thing is we got the three points, not the hat trick” Hernandez said. His first goal came in the 60th minute on a header from the top of the box. Efrain Juarez set up the goal with a corner kick from the left side, and Hernandez headed a shot that bounced on the ground and into the left corner of the net. Seven minutes later, Hernandez knocked in a shot from inside 10 yards for Mexico's fourth goal in a 12-minute span, and he scored again on a penalty in second-half stoppage time. “He was fortunate to score as a result of good team play,” Mexico coach Jose Manuel De La Torre said. “He did what forwards are supposed to do.” Hernandez's final goal came on a penalty kick when he chipped a shot into the right corner of the net. The kick was awarded after Marvin Gonzalez was handed a red card for a reckless foul on Hernandez, drawing boos from the majority of the 80,000 fans who were rooting for Mexico. “It's unbelievable the support we have from the Mexicans we have that live here. You can see it with your own eyes,” Hernandez said, “80,000 people and most of them in green shirts.” BM
