CONCACAF Gold Cup wrap: Mexico, Costa Rica score five-star wins

Mexico and Costa Rica made ideal starts to the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday, with both teams posting 5-0 wins in their opening group games.

Manchester United star Javier Hernandez scored a hat-trick to help Mexico to a 5-0 triumph over El Slavador at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but they took 55 minutes to open the scoring through Celtic midfielder Efrain Juarez.

From there it was a procession, with Aldo de Nigris doubling their lead three minutes later before Hernandez got on the scoresheet at the hour mark.

The striker known as ‘Chicharito’ scored his second after 67 minutes and a penalty five minutes into stoppage time completed the rout and the Mexican’s hat-trick.

Earlier, Costa Rica joined Mexico on top of Group A with a 5-0 thrashing of Cuba, also at Cowboys Stadium.

Marco Urena got the ball rolling with a goal in the seventh minute, but Costa Rica had to wait until four minutes before half-time to score their second, which came through Alvaro Saborio.

Urena scored his second just after the break, Heiner Mora made it 4-0 after 47 minutes and Joel Campbell capped off the win on 71 minutes.