Mexico controls Guatemala in preparation for Copa America

TUXTLA, Mexico -- With a brace from Eduardo Herrera, Mexico began the final part of its preparation toward the Copa America by beating Guatemala 3-0 on Saturday.  

Herrera tucked home passes from Gerardo Flores and Hugo Ayala to score in the 30th and 63rd minutes to guide El Tri, who will debut in Chile 2015 on June 12 against Bolivia.  

The Pumas striker, who received his first opportunity in Miguel Herrera's team in a friendly earlier this year, brought his tally to three goals with Mexico.

Jesus Corona scored from a Raul Jimenez cross to complete the scoring in the 75th minute.  

Before arriving in Chile for the Copa America, Mexico will travel to Lima to face Peru next Wednesday and close out their preparation on June 7 against Brazil in Sao Paulo.  

Guatemala used the game as a warm-up for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, to be held in July in the United States. Mexico will also compete in that tournament, but will do so with a different team than will play in South America. 

Before a packed crowd at Chiapas' Estadio Víctor Manuel Reyna in southern Mexico, the hosts dominated the match from the start and had their first shot on goal after 10 minutes when Luis Montes took a shot from outside the area that was deflected with difficulty by goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez.

Guatemala was able to get a look in the 15th minute when Dennis Lopez hit a header from inside the area after a cross from the right, but the ball went narrowly wide.

Eduardo Herrera gave the first warning with a shot that went just wide of the goal and then opened the scoring when Gerardo Flores drew the goalkeeper Jerez toward him before passing to the middle for Herrera to slot into the empty net.

In the second half, the game got out of rhythm and the Mexicans found the second goal when Herrera took a 30-yard pass from Ayala, entered the area and took a cross to shoot to the right of Jerez to make it 2-0.  

The third goal came in from the right wing when substitute Jimenez sent a cross to the heart of the area and Corona broke free to convert.