First Team

West Ham striker Chicharito scores in Mexico victory

Chicharito celebrates scoring against Paraguay

 

Chicharito scored his 51st goal for Mexico in a 4-2 friendly international victory over Paraguay on Tuesday night.

The in-form West Ham United striker, who netted twice in the Hammers’ thrilling 4-3 Premier League victory over Huddersfield Town in his most-recent appearance in Claret and Blue, was at his clinical best again for his country.

Mexico raced into a two-goal lead through Jonathan dos Santos and a Gustavo Gomez own-goal at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Chicharito then struck in typical fashion, latching onto Dos Santos’s first-time through ball before finishing confidently past goalkeeper Antony Silva and using his new celebration in honour of basketball star LeBron James.

Paraguay came back into things after half-time and closed to 3-2 through goals from Hernan Perez and Deris Gonzalez, before Luis Montes’ strike in the first minute of added time made sure of Mexico’s victory.

West Ham defender Fabian Balbuena was an unused substitute for Paraguay in the same game.

Chicharito, who now has 108 caps, will return to international action in June, when Mexico face Venezuela in Atlanta, Georgia, and Ecuador in Dallas, Texas.

Meanwhile, Balbuena will hope to earn a place in Paraguay’s squad for the Copa America in Brazil this June, where his country will face Qatar, Manuel Lanzini’s Argentina and Colombia in the group stage.