Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Andre Marchan, right, stops a shot by Mexico's Nestor Calderon during the second half of the 2012 CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifier, Friday, March 23, 2012, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Andre Marchan, right, stops a shot by Mexico's Nestor Calderon during the second half of the 2012 CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifier, Friday, March 23, 2012, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
El mexicano Marco Fabi?n se dispone a anotar gol contra el equipo de Trinidad y Tobago en la segunda mitad del partido de la CONCACAF clasificatorio para los Juegos Ol?mpicos que se disput? en Carson, California, el viernes 23 de marzo de 2012. En el suelo el portero Andre Marchan y de pie los defensores Daneil Cyrus (segundo de la derecha) y Sehldon Bateau. Fabi?n anot? tres tantos. M?xico se impuso 7-1 al conjunto caribe?o. (AP foto/Mark J. Terrill)
Mexico's Marco Fabian (10) celebrates a goal with temmates as Trinidad & Tobago's Mekeil Williams, right, looks on during the second half of the 2012 CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifier, Friday, March 23, 2012, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Mexico's Diego Reyes, left, tries to kick along with Trinidad & Tobago's Kevin Molino during the first half of the 2012 CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifier, Friday, March 23, 2012, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Trinidad & Tobago's Leslie Russell, left, and Mexico's Alan Puudo battle for the ball during the first half of the 2012 CONCACAF men's Olympic qualifier, Friday, March 23, 2012, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
CARSON, Calif. (AP) ? Marco Fabian scored three goals to lead Mexico to a 7-1 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament on Friday night.
The Chivas de Guadalajara midfielder led the charge with one goal in the first half and two in the second as Mexico dominated the tiny Caribbean nation from start to finish in the opener of Group B play for both teams. Alan Pulido, Diego Reyes, Israel Jimenez and Javier Cortes also scored for Mexico.
Goalkeeper Liborio Sanchez's bid for a shutout was ended in the 87th minute when Trinidad's Kevin Molino, a midfielder for USL PRO's Orlando City, scored from close range.
With a squad composed almost entirely of starters in the Mexican First Division, El Tri are considered tournament favorites along with the United States, which defeated Cuba, 6-0 on Thursday in Nashville.
Mexico faces Honduras on Sunday against Honduras, and Trinidad plays Panama. Mexico took the group lead in goal differential, ahead of Honduras, which beat Panama 3-1 earlier Friday. The top two teams from Group B will advance to face the top two from Group A in the semifinals at Kansas City, Kan., on March 31.
Early on, timely goalkeeping by Andre Marchan and stingy defense by the Soca Warriors' back four kept the match scoreless. However, in the 29th minute, a corner kick by David Cabrera deflected off the head of Reyes before being saved by Marchan, Pulido knocked in the rebound from close range.
Four minutes later, Sacramento, Calif.-born midfielder Miguel Angel Ponce fired a cross down the left flank to Fabian, his Guadalajara teammate, who doubled Mexico's lead with a header past Marchan.
As the half wore on, Trinidad had several opportunities to get on the board, but Liborio Sanchez preserved the shutout with a pair of timely saves. In the 51st minute, a free kick from Cabrera was saved by Marchan, but the rebound fell to Mexico captain Hiram Mier, who fired the rebound to Reyes for the third goal.
Mexico made it 4-0 in the 69th minute as a well-placed pass from Cortes found Fabian waiting inside the box and he sent a shot past Marchan. Jimenez followed with a score on a free kick from 30 yards out six minutes later, and Fabian completed his hat trick in the 85th minute on a rebound.
After Trinidad got on the board, Cortes closed the scoring one minute into stoppage time.
There was a distinctly American presence on Trinidad as four members of the Soca Warriors' 20-man roster currently play in the United States.
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