Giovani dos Santos (pictured) earned his 100th cap in Mexico’s draw with host Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier on September 5, 2017, in San Jose, Costa Rica. (Photo: Mexsport)
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Like he has done on many previous occasions, Giovani dos Santos made a difference for Mexico.
During Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier at Costa Rica, the instinctive play of the LA Galaxy star -- in his 100th appearance for the Tricolor in a FIFA “A” match -- produced a goal.
In the 42nd minute, dos Santos smartly used his chest to turn Raul Jimenez’s cross from the right side of the box towards goal. Right-diving goalkeeper Keylor Navas did well to swat the ball with his left hand, only for it to deflect off teammate Cristian Gamboa and into the net.
While it was officially recorded as an own-goal, the opening goal of a match that ended in a 1-1 draw was another reminder of dos Santos’ resourcefulness.
Despite his personal heroics and reaching an historic milestone, the 28-year-old preferred to focus on the bigger picture.
“It was a good match,” said dos Santos, who earned his first cap on September 12, 2007, in a friendly against Brazil. “In the end we leave content with the point, even though we knew that we could have taken home three.
“We have to take away the positive things. We came to a difficult place against a difficult team and the point is deserved.”
The former Villarreal standout has 18 career goals for Mexico, including two in World Cup qualifiers, five in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and one in the FIFA World Cup.
