Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s last match as a coach before Friday night was Atlanta United’s MLS Cup victory in December. He picked up right where he left off as Mexico’s new coach.
Mexico scored three goals in 14 minutes to top Chile 3-1 in a friendly on Friday night at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
While this was just a friendly, this was a country that beat Mexico 7-0 in the 2016 Copa America. Not bad for Martino’s first match in charge of El Tri.
The highlight of the day was a goal from Hirving “Chucky” Lozano to cap a devastating opening 20 minutes to the second half. Lozano took advantage of some sloppy play from La Roja to chip past keeper Gabriel Arias. The goal made it 3-0 Mexico in the 65th minute, a second goal in a minute for El Tri.
¡¡EL CHUCKY LOZANOOOO, EL CHUCKY LOZANOOOOO!! Y en menos de un minuto, GOOOOOLLLL, marca el tercero@miseleccionmx 3-0 @LaRoja
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) March 23, 2019
Raúl Jiménez scored the first goal of the Tata Martino era with a penalty kick in the 52nd minute following a foul for some overzealous jostling in the box during a Mexico corner kick.
¡¡GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL DE MÉXICOOOOOO!! ¡¡GOL DE RAÚL JIMÉNEZ!! ¡¡LO GANA EL TRIIIIII!!@miseleccionmx 1-0 @LaRoja pic.twitter.com/M2IWiMEdQP
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) March 23, 2019
Mexico was well and truly on top at this point and doubled its lead on a corner kick headed in by Héctor Moreno 12 minutes later.
¡GOLAAAZOOOOOO! Apareció Moreno arriba y con el cabezazo al fondo de las redes@miseleccionmx 2-0 @LaRoja
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) March 23, 2019
Chile did get a consolation goal in the 69th minute through Nicolás Castillo.
¡¡GOOOOOOOOLLL DE CHILEEEE!! Nico Castillo marca para descontar en gran triangulación de La Roja @miseleccionmx 3-1 @LaRoja
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) March 23, 2019
Javier Hernandez came on for Jiménez in the 75th minute but did not get on the score sheet for Mexico. Nonetheless he had a successful trip to Southern California.
While in the states, Chicharito took the opportunity to tie the knot with Sarah Kohan, a 25-year-old Australian.
Mr y Mrs Hernández @CH14_ y Sarah Kohan unen sus vidas en . ¡ Lo mejor para ambos ! ¿Lo celebrarán con un triunfo de @miseleccionmx ? pic.twitter.com/SBJKNpzE0m
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) March 22, 2019
Next up for Mexico is a friendly against Paraguay on Tuesday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Chile will take on the United States on Tuesday at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.
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