It is well said that the first time is never forgotten, especially when everything that can go right, goes right. That was the experience of a young 'Chicharito' Hernández on September 9, 2006, the day he took the first step in an unforgettable story.
It was the 81st minute of the match between Guadalajara and Necaxa on the field of the Jalisco Stadium, corresponding to Day 9 of the 2006 Apertura, with a score of 3-0 for the Rebaño. The rain had fallen on the Perla Tapatía, which loosened the turf of the Coloso de la Calzada, where an 18-year-old boy was waiting.
The fourth referee raised the electronic board a red 9 and the 45 in green. Omar Bravo, with two goals under his arm, left his place for Javier to see his first minutes in the maximum circuit in the Chivas attack. The scoreboard and the game's procedure predicted a calm ending for both teams, but Hernández had not yet said the last word.
It only took him 6 minutes to make his presence felt: the timer showed 87' of play, 'Chicharito' read the flow of the play and headed towards the area, but was stopped by his teammate's dribble. Always attentive to his surroundings, he saw the ball heading in his direction, went for it before the Rayos' defender's mark and at the moment when anyone else would have shot, Javier feinted with his left foot before the rival's sweep and the goalkeeper's bewilderment as he tried to dive. It was in that fraction of a second when time stood still, and with the precision of a billiard player, he put the ball into the corner of the Necaxista goal from the inside.
Javier Hernández Balcázar's debut, goal and triumph on the night of September 9, 2006, was yet another proof that, together, Mexicans can achieve the unthinkable.
¡Día especial en Verde Valle!
— CHIVAS (@Chivas) September 9, 2024
Hoy @CH14_ cumple 18 años de haber debutado con el Guadalajara y quiero que escuchen lo que me dijo pic.twitter.com/4IzE7Gplet
