Hugo Sanchez couldn’t have been happier than to get his first win as Mexico coach in San Diego. After all, the Mexico and Real Madrid legend has something of a love affair with this city. Nearly 30 years ago now, Sanchez almost single-handedly dismantled the famed Russian club Dynamo Moscow in his home debut for the San Diego Sockers, the North American Soccer League team he played for in 1979 and 1980.
The Russian giant, in the U.S. for a series of exhibitions against NASL clubs, were completely unprepared for the quickness of the diminutive Mexican, who scored four goals in a 5-2 demolition for the Sockers.
On Wednesday night in San Diego, Sanchez took another fond memory home with him: an emphatic 3-1 win against Venezuela, marked by spectacular volleys from 20-year-old Andres Guardado and Francisco Arce, who grew up in nearby Tijuana. “I’m glad I got it here,” Sanchez said of the win. “It brings back a lot of memories. Obviously I have a lot of feelings for this city. I’m glad we were able to give the fans a victory and create a good vibe.” The victory also marked the largest-ever soccer crowd at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium: 63,328.