VANCOUVER — Canada fell flat in its statement game.
Javier Hernandez, Hirving Lozano and Jesus Manuel Corona scored Friday as high-flying Mexico dismantled Canada 3-0 in World Cup qualifying.
After the teams traded chances in an electric opening, Hernandez — nicknamed Chicharito — rose to meet a cross with a header in the 31st minute before Lozano blasted a shot shortside on Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan in the 39th.
Corona added another in the 72nd as Canada crumbled in a match the players said all week could be a turning point for the men's national team in front of a massive crowd at B.C. Place Stadium.
"We were a little excited, a little bit too eager to get that first goal," said midfielder Will Johnson. "I guess we don't have as much experience as they do playing in these type of games with this kind of a crowd, with this kind of a buzz. It's not a lack of fight or a lack of effort.
"Good teams punish you. We learned we need to control ourselves a little bit and realize where we are and who we are."
The Mexicans pressed higher up the pitch than the hosts were expecting and peppered Borjan in a wild opening 45 minutes that also saw Canada miss three golden opportunities that, if buried, could have led to a very different outcome.
"We lost the big moments in the game," said Johnson.
Mexico, ranked 22nd in the world by FIFA, now leads Pool A in the penultimate round of CONCACAF qualifying with nine points from three games.
No. 87 Canada remains second with four points, followed No. 99 El Salvador with two points and No. 89 Honduras with one after those countries tied 2-2 earlier Friday. That draw was one of the only positives on this night for Canada, which plays at Mexico on Tuesday before visiting Honduras and hosting El Salvador in September.
The group's top two countries move on to the final round of qualifying.
Canada, which has not made a World Cup since its only appearance in 1986, is now 3-17-7 all-time against Mexico, with the last victory coming in 2000.
"There's a level of disappointment," said Canadian defender Adam Straith. "This was an opportunity for us to stake a claim in front of such a big crowd."
The 54,798 in attendance set a new record for a national team game on home soil in any sport, and while there were plenty of fans cheering on the home side, thousands of Mexican supporters in red, green and white gave the stands the look of a Christmas tree.
Mexico had a flurry early in the first half, but a shot from Hector Herrera just flashed wide, and Borjan made a great save on Miguel Layun to keep things scoreless.
Junior Hoilett had a golden opportunity to put Canada ahead in the 21st minute, but skied his attempt over the crossbar.
Cyle Larin then had another burst in the 25th for the hosts, only to see his effort on a partial break miss the target.
"It's like always with Canada," said Borjan. "Our problem, we cannot finish."
Mexico had back-to-back chances a few minutes later, but Borjan was there again to deny Andres Guardado on a shot from distance before Layun was stopped on the ensuing corner.
"That was amazing," Canadian defender Marcel de Jong said of his 'keeper. "He saved some almost 100 per cent goals."
But the visitors kept coming and Hernandez made it 1-0 after Layun was given too much space on the left to deliver a cross that the striker headed home to send the Mexican contingent at B.C. Place into a frenzy.
"When you give away balls it's hard to be in the correct shape," said Straith. "When they exploit it as well as they did, it's dangerous for us."
Hernandez and Herrera incredibly each hit posts on the same sequence four minutes later before Hoilett had another opportunity to get Canada on the board on a shot that again went over the target.
After Lozano scored in the 39th on a brilliant strike, the Canadians appealed for a penalty five minutes later, but it looked like Mexico's defence did well to clear the ball off the feet of Atiba Hutchinson.
"I think we won this game with authority," said Mexican manager Juan Carlos Osorio. "I thought that we were better than the Canadian team."
Canada's Scott Arfield, a Scottish midfielder with a Toronto-born father who was making his debut after only joining the squad this week, was subbed on at the half and had a half chance in the 53rd minute, but his shot was comfortably saved by 'keeper Alfredo Talavera.
Corona rounded out the scoring in 72nd, hammering a shot past Borjan as chants of "Ole" echoed around the building.
"I thought we went for it," said Johnson. "Good start and then eventually got a little stretched and got hit. We kept trying to push, get back in it, and then they got that second goal."
Tuesday's return match in Mexico City will be played at Azteca Stadium, one of the cathedrals of world soccer and a house of horrors for Canada. The Canadians are 0-5-1 all-time at the venue while getting outscored 21-2, including an 8-0 Gold Cup beating before 100,000 fans in 1993.
Canada's last goal at Azteca — which sits more than two kilometres above sea level — came in the country's only positive result there, a 1-1 draw in 1980.
"We've just got to continue believing in ourselves," said Borjan. "We've just got to finish that last touch."
