Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

Mexico Vs. Costa Rica, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Final Score 1-0, Chicharito Is El Tri’s Savior

Mexico have become the first team from CONCACAF to qualify for the hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying with their victory over Costa Rica. They were made to work much harder at home than they were in San Jose, but Javier Hernandez was able to finish off a chance in the second half to give El Tri a 1-0 victory.

While El Tri were not at their best for most of the match, they were certainly better than Costa Rica, and a goal always seemed inevitable before it came. 'Chicharito', who has been displaced from the Manchester United team, looked rusty on Friday and continued to look rusty for most of Tuesday's match as well. He got himself in the perfect spot in the 61st minute, however, and applied a simple touch to direct a cross by Jorge Torres Nilo into the back of the net.

Mexico looked like a much more confident side from then until the end of the match and didn’t give the Ticos a sniff at an equalizer. If he wishes, Jose Manuel de la Torre can call a youth side into his team’s final two qualifiers in this round.

We’ll have coverage of all of Tuesday’s matches in our CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying StoryStream. For more on El Tri, head over to Mexican football blog FMF State Of Mind. For more on the entire world of football, follow @SBNationSoccer on Twitter.

See More:

More in Soccer

Soccer
World Cup 2026 bracket: Who has advanced to the knockout round?World Cup 2026 bracket: Who has advanced to the knockout round?
Soccer

What teams have advanced to the knockout round at the World Cup?

By Mark Schofield
Soccer
USMNT World Cup schedule: How to watch every U.S. match, scores, and moreUSMNT World Cup schedule: How to watch every U.S. match, scores, and more
Soccer

How to watch every USMNT match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

By Mark Schofield
Soccer
Christian Pulisic injury updates: UMSNT star out for Australia World Cup matchChristian Pulisic injury updates: UMSNT star out for Australia World Cup match
Soccer

The U.S. star is day-to-day with a calf injury in the World Cup. Here’s the latest.

By Mark Schofield
Soccer
USMNT playing for Unofficial World Championship against AustraliaUSMNT playing for Unofficial World Championship against Australia
Soccer

Qualifying for the knockout stage could come with an extra bonus on Friday.

By Bernd Buchmasser
Soccer
USA vs. Australia World Cup preview: Analysis and tacticsUSA vs. Australia World Cup preview: Analysis and tactics
Soccer
Raúl Rangel’s ‘save of the tournament’ helps Mexico win World Cup Group ARaúl Rangel’s ‘save of the tournament’ helps Mexico win World Cup Group A
Soccer

Mexico keeper Raúl Rangel made a pair of spectacular saves to help preserve a 1-0 win over South Korea

By Mark Schofield