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Five-star Mexico crush Bolivia

Javier Hernandez scored twice as Mexico stepped up their FIFA World Cup™ preparations with an emphatic 5-0 win over Bolivia in an international friendly.

Mexico's goals came from Pablo Barrera in the 2nd minute, Hernandez in the 12th and 20th, Braulio Luna in the 18th and Paul Aguilar in the 51st. However, the El Tri side looked little like the one that coach Javier Aguirre will likely select for June's World Cup finals in South Africa.

Those missing included goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defender Rafael Marquez, midfielders Giovani dos Santos and Andres Guardado and forwards Omar Bravo, Nery Castillo and Carlos Vela. All but Ochoa and Bravo are playing overseas.

Instead, the young squad - which included nine of 18 players with fewer than five caps - allowed Aguirre to get a look at some players who may be ready to stake a claim to a spot in the eventual FIFA World Cup squad. They wasted no time on Wednesday, as Hernandez found Luna on the left and Barrera slotted Luna's cross inside the post for a 1-0 lead after just two minutes.

Hernandez doubled the advantage in the 12th, after a one-touch pass from Luna inside the penatly area. Six minutes later it was Luna's turn as Mexico capitalized on a miscue by Vaca and Luna ended up with the ball right in front of the empty goal to score.

Hernandez added his second goal of the match just two minutes later, running onto a long ball and beating Vaca to make it 4-0 after 20 minutes. Aguilar scored the lone goal of the second half when he blasted home a corner kick that had been partially deflected by Vaca in the 51st.

It was the first of 11 matches that El Tri have scheduled in preparation for the FIFA World Cup finals. Mexico will open the tournament against hosts South Africa on 11 June