Mexico head into the World Cup with momentum after a 5-1 victory over Serbia, coming from behind to score five unanswered goals at Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca on 4 June. Serbia had opened the scoring in the 19th minute through Petar Stanic, but Mexico levelled before half-time and took full control after the break. Raul Jimenez, Johan Vasquez, an own goal and Luis Chavez were among the scorers as Javier Aguirre used the final friendly to press squad players. Mexico now begin the tournament on 11 June against South Africa, the opening match of the finals Mexico is co-hosting with the United States and Canada.

The result allowed many squad players to press their claims ahead of the tournament, as Javier Aguirre's side recovered from an early concession and grew into the game.

How the match turned

Serbia struck first in the 19th minute when Petar Stanic intercepted a defensive error and, aided by a deflection, slotted a low finish past goalkeeper Raul Rangel. The early setback might have unsettled a less organised team, but Mexico quickly imposed a steadier tempo and forced Serbia into mistakes.

Mexico drew level in the 34th minute when defender Johan Vasquez met Brian Gutierrez's delivery with a header. The visitors' defensive confusion resumed deep into first-half stoppage time. A misplaced back pass from Stefan Bukinac slipped past goalkeeper Filip Stankovic and into the net, handing the hosts the lead before the interval.

After half-time Javier Aguirre's side continued to press and the pressure paid off. Twelve minutes into the second half Raul Jimenez extended the lead, following up when Julian Quinones' effort struck the post and rebounded off the Fulham striker into the net.

Mastheads

The goal underlined Mexico's persistence in the box and their willingness to follow up on loose balls.

The visitors' evening worsened in the 72nd minute when Adem Avdic turned Alexis Vega's corner into his own net, and Luis Chavez capped the scoring with a superb long-range strike just before the 90th minute to make it 5-1. The goals arrived from a mixture of set-piece accuracy, pressure inside the box and a late long-range finish.

Tactical shape and selection questions

Aguirre's team forced errors through sustained pressure. That approach left Serbia scrambling and allowed Mexico to dominate phases of the game, particularly after they had taken the lead. Balancing press, set-pieces and opportunism was evident: one goal came from a delivered header, two were born of defensive lapses, and Chavez's strike was a reminder that Mexico still possess the capacity to score from distance.

Beyond the scoreboard, the match functioned as a dress rehearsal. It offered minutes to players on the fringes of the starting eleven and provided Aguirre with a clearer picture of late selection choices. The broad pattern was clear: Mexico recovered control after an initial error, converted pressure into goals, and closed the friendly with comfortable possession and tempo.

Fireworks were set off at the final whistle as the hosts signed off their preparations in front of the home crowd. For Serbia the match was a chastening send-off, a night in which defensive errors proved costly. For Mexico, it was a statement of form and of depth heading into a tournament they will open at home.

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Mexico open the finals on 11 June against South Africa, the tournament's opening match in the competition they are co-hosting with the United States and Canada. Originally reported by Reuters.

This article was created with AI assistance.