MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� Javier Aguirre has been saying for a while now that the key to the Mexican team鈥檚 success at the World Cup is that they are a family. This family, it seems, is on a historic journey.
Mateo Ch谩vez and Juli谩n Qui帽ones scored in a six-minute span early in the second half, and Mexico beat the Czech Republic 3-0 on Wednesday to complete wins in all three of its group-stage matches for the first time.
The 22-year-old Ch谩vez, in his first World Cup, opened the scoring in the 55th minute and Qui帽ones scored his second goal of the tournament in the 61st. Alvaro Fidalgo added a goal in stoppage time.
鈥淚t was something very beautiful, and I鈥檒l take it with me to the grave,鈥� Ch谩vez said of his goal. 鈥淚 imagined it many times; I dreamed of this.鈥�
Mexico’s previous best group-stage performance was two wins and one draw, done in 1986 and 2002 and both featuring Javier Aguirre, the first as a midfielder and the second as El Tri’s coach. Aguirre is back as coach this year, his third stint leading the national team.
After topping Group A, Mexico will play again at Estadio Azteca on Tuesday in a round-of-32 match against an opponent to be determined.
鈥淣ow comes the knockout stage; statistics and data don鈥檛 matter. We鈥檙e achieving things, but what lies ahead is what counts,鈥� Aguirre said. 鈥淣either the players nor I dwell on what we鈥檝e just done; we鈥檙e thinking about what鈥檚 next.鈥�
Mexico is undefeated at nine World Cup matches at the massive stadium, which was packed with 80,824 fans on Wednesday. El Tri has only two losses at Azteca, most recently in World Cup qualifying against Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013.
The match Wednesday included nods to Mexico鈥檚 past and future. , at 17, became the youngest Mexico player to start in a World Cup. And 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo 鈥淢emo鈥� Ochoa entered in the 77th minute, joining Argentina鈥檚 and Portugal鈥檚 as the only players to appear in six World Cups.
Mora said 鈥渋t鈥檚 like a dream come true after everything I鈥檝e worked for.鈥�
鈥淣ow we have tough opponents ahead,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to keep working to stay on this path. We want to keep advancing because the Mexican national team can become champion.鈥�
Mexico’s triumph was marred, however, by the return of a by fans that has previously led to fines and other sanctions against its soccer federation. The chant, a one-word slur, was heard near the end of the first half when Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar took a goal kick.
The Czech Republic was eliminated, finishing with one point in three games.
Mexico is unbeaten in 11 games dating to a friendly loss against Panama last November. And Aguirre has made the most of his roster, using 25 of 26 players in the tournament. Ch谩vez was one of five starters Wednesday who didn’t start in the previous win over South Korea.
鈥淭wenty-five of the 26 have played 鈥� that is no small detail 鈥� nor is it a small detail that everyone celebrates the goals,鈥� Aguirre said.
Ochoa makes history in his likely farewell
Ochoa, who wears No. 13, played the last 13 minutes in regulation, plus stoppage time, in what’s likely to be his last appearance for Mexico. He turns 41 on July 13 and plans to retire from international competition after the World Cup.
鈥淟ife 鈥� football 鈥� had this farewell in store for me, to cap it all off perfectly. For my part, I鈥檝e left it all out there; I gave everything,鈥� Ochoa said. 鈥淚 leave with nothing left because I poured it all into my teams and the national squad.鈥�
He was a substitute in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and started for Mexico in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
鈥淚 felt Memo had to play (but) for how long? I never knew until I said, 鈥楾his is the moment,鈥欌�� Aguirre said. 鈥淭hese are coaching decisions, but it was a night for Mexico to honor its legend, Memo.鈥�
Ra煤l Rangel is the starter this year, stepping in for the injured Luis 脕ngel Malag贸n, who helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup last year. Malag贸n’s injury opened the door for Ochoa’s return.
Ochoa became the oldest Mexican to play in the World Cup. The previous record holder was Cuauht茅moc Blanco, who was 37 when he played in South Africa in 2014.
After the match, the veteran goalkeeper kissed the goal post before kneeling down and was hugged by the rest of the squad.
鈥淩egarding Memo鈥檚 appearance, we don鈥檛 know if he鈥檚 going to say goodbye or not, but it was a nice tribute for his six World Cups,鈥� added Aguirre. 鈥淗e is a legend 鈥� he is Mexican.鈥� ___
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