Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored a first-half goal and goalkeeper Jesus Corona stopped a second-half penalty as the Mexican national team downed Ecuador in an exhibition match played in front of a sold-out crowd of 88,409 at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Saturday night.
The game-winning goal came in the 13th minute via Hernandez, who plays for Real Madrid in Spain. The center forward picked off the ball from an Ecuadorean defender and then ran at the South Americans' goal, curling a right-footed shot from just outside the box that kissed the right post and finished in the back of the net. It was his 39th career goal for Mexico in 71 appearances.
Ecuador, led by former MLS forward Miller Bolaños, generated their fair share of chances, but they were foiled by an inspired Corona in the Mexico nets. He stopped two Bolaños shots inside the first five minutes, and then came up big on their best scoring opportunity in the second half.
In the 70th minute Mexican defender Diego Reyes was whistled for a foul in the penalty area when he bumped Ecuadorean attacker Ángel Mena, resulting in a disputed penalty kick for Ecuador. Bolaños stepped up to take it, but Corona was up to the task and came up with the save.
Nine minutes from the end, Mexico nearly doubled their advantage with a Raul Jimenez header that was parried by Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez onto the crossbar.
"It was a very important win because we want in each game to try to show how to respond to the confidence that the manager gives to us when he calls us up," Hernandez told ESPN after the match. "We're very happy with this victory. We know they're friendlies, but we know it's better when you prepare all the process when you win most of the games."
"We are very happy and very pleased because the most important thing is the team and we made a very big effort. And so we are very happy."
Mexico move on to play another South American side, Paraguay, at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium on Tuesday, March 31 (9 pm ET on UniMás, UDN, ESPN2).
