Reigning champions Mexico begin 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship with impressive win over Costa Rica

Marco Bueno produced two composed finishes to help his team to a 4-0 win ©Getty Images

London 2012 gold medallists Mexico began their 2015 Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship campaign in style as they thrashed Costa Rica 4-0 in Group B at the StubHub Center, Los Angeles.

Mexico began brightly in the opening stages of the game and took the lead in the 19th minute, with Arturo Gonzalez beginning the move by finding Marco Bueno in the Costa Rican penalty area.

The 21-year-old took two touches to bring the ball under his control and calmly dispatched the opportunity by steering a right foot shot across goal and past the outstretched hand of Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Carlos Martinez.

Costa Rica were aiming to get to half-time still in the contest but they would instead head into the dressing room ruing their misfortune, after a corner from Gonzalez swung into the near post and struck defender William Fernandez before being diverted into the corner of his own net.

While the second had a large element of luck, Mexico’s third came after a well-crafted move involving Hirving Lozano and Bueno.

Lozano delivered an excellent cross with the outside of his right foot and similarly to his first strike, Bueno controlled expertly before steering into the corner of the net, to put the result beyond doubt with 15 minutes remaining.

Bueno’s fellow striker Erick Torres made the full-time score even more empathic as he rolled the ball into an empty net at the far post after Costa Rica had failed to clear a low cross.

Anthony Lozano scored the only goal in Honduras match with Haiti — Anthony Lozano scored the only goal in Honduras' match with Haiti ©Getty Images

Meanwhile, in the second tie of the day Honduras, who were CONCACAF’s second representatives at London 2012, secured a narrow victory over Haiti with an early goal proving the difference between the two teams.

The match was decided by Anthony Lozano, a member of the Honduran squad in London, as he rifled a powerful volley into the net via the Haitian crossbar after six minutes, following a corner having deflected invitingly to his feet.

Haiti’s best opportunity came in stoppage time at the end of the match with a goalmouth scramble presenting them with an opportunity to draw level, but Honduran defender Jose Barralaga hammered the ball clear to preserve his team’s advantage and give them a winning start in Group B.