Pulido scores hat trick for El Tri in debut

• by Soccer America , Jan 29, 2014

[MEXICO-SOUTH KOREA] Tigres' Alan Pulido, one of three starters making their international debuts, scored a hat trick to lead Mexico to a 4-0 win over South Korea in El Tri's first friendly of the year before 54,313 fans at San Antonio's Alamodome.

Oribe Peralta, the hero of Mexico's 2012 Olympic gold-medal campaign and the 2013 Concacaf Player of the Year, put Mexico ahead in the 38th minute, and Pulido followed with goals in the 45th, 86th and 89th minutes.

Rodolfo Pizarro, Jose Juan Vazquez and Pulido all made their Mexico debuts. Mexico's starters included two California-born players -- Isaac Brizuela and Miguel Ponce.

They all came into the game longshots to make Coach Miguel Herrera's World Cup team.

Missing most of its European-based players, South Korea finishes its U.S. tour Saturday against the USA at StubHub Center.