Mexico shrug off an early scare to thump Serbia 5-1 in their World Cup send-off

Mexico signed off their World Cup preparations in the best possible mood, recovering from an early jolt to beat Serbia 5-1 in Toluca on Thursday. With the tournament they are co-hosting only a week away, Javier Aguirre’s side needed a performance to settle the nerves at home. They got a rout.

It did not begin the way the Estadio Nemesio Diez wanted. Petar Stanic put Serbia ahead in the 19th minute and, for a short spell, the home crowd grew anxious. The response, when it came, was emphatic.

Five without reply

Johan Vázquez levelled in the 34th minute, rising to head home a Brian Gutiérrez corner. Six minutes later Mexico were in front, Stefan Bukinac turning the ball into his own net to make it 2-1 at the break. Whatever Aguirre said at half time clearly landed. Raúl Jiménez stroked in a composed third on 57 minutes, a second Serbian own goal from Adem Avdic made it four, and Luis Chávez finished things off with a thunderous long-range strike in the 90th minute.

Five goals, two of them gifted by the visitors, but Mexico will not care how they arrived. After a nervous opening, the scoreline read exactly as a host nation would want it a week out from kick-off.

Momentum at the right time

Friendlies are awkward things to read. A heavy win in June guarantees nothing once the knockout rounds come around, and Serbia were some way short of full tilt. Even so, there is a difference between limping into a home World Cup and arriving with the crowd believing. Mexico, for one night at least, looked the part.

Jiménez leading the line and finding the net will please Aguirre most, given how much his team will lean on the striker when the real thing begins. Chávez’s late screamer was the kind of moment that sends a stadium home happy. The warm-ups are done now, and the only matches left are the ones that count.

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