Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 7y

Javier Hernandez 'never dreamed' he'd equal Jared Borgetti's Mexico record

MEXICO CITY - Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez leveled Jared Borgetti's record as Mexico's highest-ever scorer on 46 goals on Friday, but he wasn't looking for attention after El Tri's important 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying.

The 28-year-old Bayer Leverkusen striker opened the scoring for Mexico in the seventh minute at Estadio Azteca as the national team cruised to victory against the Ticos, but only spoke briefly with reporters afterwards.

"It's is very nice, but this is just starting, that's how I see it," said Hernandez. "It helps my confidence to be level as the maximum scorer. It is something I never dreamed about or imagined, but the most important things is the result for the group."

Porto defender Miguel Layun said he could tell how happy his record-tying teammate was after the match, and spoke about the importance of "Chicharito" to the national team setup.

"He spreads energy and he's important in the emotional side of the group," Layun said.

"Seeing him like that transmits to us and we hope he keeps achieving the objectives he has."

Layun lauded the team's all-round "intelligent" performance against a Costa Rica side that had been in first position in the Hexagonal table and came to Mexico confident of achieving a result.

"I think things went as we wanted to them," continued Layun. "That speaks of a high level of concentration from us.

"Chicharito's goal was also important. Scoring early allows you to control the game a lot more and be calmer."

The negative on a historic night for Hernandez and the Mexico national team was that the former Manchester United striker limped off in the 66th minute, although coach Juan Carlos Osorio said in the postgame news conference that he may be able to play on Tuesday against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain.

One player that is out of that game is Jurgen Damm, who picked up a hamstring strain towards the end of the Friday's match after coming on as a substitute.

^ Back to Top ^