JON ARNOLD – In the 38th minute of Mexico’s Gold Cup opener against El Salvador, midfielder Andres Guardado got on the end of a cross into the penalty box from Pablo Barrera.

It was the perfect opportunity to score the first goal of the tournament for the Group A favorites, but Guardado rocketed a left-footed volley over the gaping net of keeper Miguel Montes.

The Deportivo La Coruña player put his hands behind his head and sighed, visibly upset at the easy miss. But Guardado’s anguish would soon turn to celebration in the second half as he and his fellow midfielders keyed El Tri’s 5-0 romp against El Salvador.With three of Mexico’s five goals, it’s understandable why Javier Hernandez was be voted Man of the Match. Yet despite the striker’s hat trick, his coach was quick to credit the midfielders.

“I speak of the team,” José Manuel de la Torre said through a translator when asked about the play of Chicharito. “He had the good fortune to score, but as a result of the team play, and that’s what forwards are there to do.”

Despite the lopsided scoreline and all the plaudits they were given after the match, Mexico didn’t get going until the 54th minute, and even then it took a stroke of luck. Gio Dos Santos played a low cross to Efrain Juarez who tried to blast it into the back of the net. Montes blocked the shot, but the ball ricocheted and bounced off the falling Juarez’s shoulder and into the net.

From there, the defending Gold Cup champions were off and running, adding three more in the next 12 minutes. All involved Guardado in the set up, as he more than made amends for missing the mark in the first half.

In setting up substitute Aldo de Nigris for the second goal of the evening, Guardado beat one Salvadoran and was able to get rid of the ball before taking a hard foul. Referee Enrico Wijngaarde played the advantage and it was 2-0 after a back heel from Nigris split the center backs.

The third was a gorgeous ball swung in from the left side during the 60th minute that found the waiting head of Chicharito for the first of his hat trick. Guardado and the Manchester United star linked up again just six minutes later when Guardado’s long ball over the top freed the striker who, though he had failed to score on a one-on-one opportunity earlier in the match, had no trouble beating the keeper on this occasion.

Hernandez’s final tally came from a penalty in stoppage time, which was awarded after El Salvador right back Marvin Gonzalez shoved the Mexican in the box. Gonzalez received a direct red, presumably because he was the last man back, but the Salvadoran captain will feel it was a harsh decision.

With or without his captain, El Salvador coach Ruben Israel is confident his team can bounce back from the lopsided defeat they suffered when they take on Costa Rica. Los Ticos were on the right end of a 5-0 score against Cuba earlier in the evening.

“It doesn’t end or start with one game,” Israel said through a translator. “Motivation is an area of importance for us now, but also we need to focus on the field.”

The next round of Group A matches take place in Charlotte, North Carolina. El Salvador meeting Costa Rica at 7:00 Eastern and Cuba and Mexico following that match.

by Jon Arnold