CHIAPAS, Mexico – Eduardo Herrera played the role of hero for Mexico on Saturday as the 26-year-old striker scored a brace in El Tri's 3-0 beating of Guatemala.
The Mexico City native and Pumas UNAM star scored in each half before being substituted in the 67th minute. Jesús "Tecatito" Corona added an extra insurance goal late as Mexico prepares for the 2015 Copa America in Chile on June 11th.
Guatemala goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez made an incredible save on Luis Montes at the 10' minute mark in the first half. Javier Güemez sent a pass to Montes just outside the box, and the Mexican midfielder blasted a rocket to the top right corner of the net that Jerez was able to just get his hand on saving the goal.
Despite Guatemala's best efforts, El Tri would open up the scoring in the 31st minute of the match. Defenseman Gerardo Flores found himself in the right corner of the box with Jerez charging towards him. Flores wisely reacted by passing the ball over the head of Jerez to a wide-open Hererra in the center of the box. Herrera smashed the shot into the bottom left corner of the net and Mexico jumped out to the early 1-0 lead.
Herrera started the second half similar to how he performed in the first. The Mexican striker netted his second goal of the match as he raced down the right hand side of the box. Evading two Guatemalan defenders, Herrera sneaked a shot past Jerez into the bottom left corner of the net, and just inside the far post.
Jesús "Tecatito" Corona made it 3-0 El Tri ten minutes later after Raul Jiménez found the midfielder wide open in front of the net. Tecatito started the second half for El Tri and Jiménez came into the match in the 67th minute for the hero Herrera. Jiménez immediately made his impact felt as he entered into the right side of the box, drawing the attention of the defense before finding Tecatito who was easily able to hammer the ball past Jerez.
Guatemala remains winless in their last five matches whereas Mexico is in fine form heading into the Copa America in two weeks, winners of seven of their last ten matches with only a loss to the United States last month in their 2015 campaign.
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