Houston.- The shot was a lob that bounced into the lower back corner of the net. The ball had sailed over goalkeeper Nick Rimando. It was a goal sent in with the tap of the right foot of Javier "Chicharito" Hernández.

That moment is tattooed in Hernandez's mind.

How could he forget that goal? It was his first goal with Manchester United.

"Of course I remember it," said Hernández, Mexico's star forward with a baby face and buzz cut.

"Chicharito" subbed into what was last year's Major League Soccer All-Star game in the 63rd minute at Reliant Stadium. Fans anticipated his debut with his new team in the English Premier League. They got to see it and were treated to Hernandez's goal in the 84th minute.

"I was very happy but obviously I was very nervous under those circumstances," he said. "It is something incredible to me because I knew there were a lot of Mexican people in the stadium."

"Chicharito" will set foot in that stadium Wednesday for the first time since that first goal when Mexico takes on Honduras in a Gold Cup semifinal in the night cap of a doubleheader. The United States takes on Panama in the other semifinal.

The 20-year-old modest son and grandson of former Mexican soccer stars downplayed the moment he scored his first goal for the Red Devils. He said he wasn't sure he'd think about that moment when Mexico runs out on to the field against Honduras, a close rival.

He always tries to say the right things, so don't expect him to praise that moment from now on. He might have other highlights to speak about after Wednesday night. After all, he is the Gold Cup's leading scorer with six goals. He has been the star of the tournament. Everywhere he goes, fans go into a frenzy just to get a glimpse, a photo shot or try to get an autograph.

Players on opposing teams say they don't fear his creative style of play where he can practically score with every touch of the ball or begin a scoring play. But they make sure he is accounted for. He defenses on their heels.

Honduras won't be an exception.

Los Catrachos are expected to play Mexico with a defensive mind. They know "Chicharito" must be shutdown and his supporting cast has to be slowed.

Honduras might just copy or use a similar strategy used by Guatemala against Mexico in the quarterfinals last week. Guatemala relied on its counter attack to catch El Tri's defense off guard and took an early 1-0 lead. Mexico trailed for the first time in this Gold cup. Guatemala sat back and defended the one goal advantage until Mexico broke through with second half goals by Aldo de Nigris and "Chicharito."

"There'll be a bunch of circumstances in which they show they are a strong team and at times they show, depending on what we will do, that they are a team that can make mistakes," said Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez of Mexico.

"We hope that our game will expose their vulnerability and their bad side and not their good side. I await a very good Mexican team that if we want to beat them, we have to be better than them."

Mexico's players recognize what Honduras can bring. Both teams know each other well. The last time both teams met in the Gold Cup, Honduras beat El Tri 2-1 in the group stage.

"It's going to be perhaps more difficult than Guatemala," said Mexico defender Rafael Márquez. "Lately, Honduras has been complicated for us, but we know this is a different era now. This team is now in a good moment and has a lot of strength and I think if we do thing rights we can have a good outcome."

Carlos Salcido echoed Marquez' thoughts.

"We know them real well. That's the truth," Salcido said. "They also know us perfectly. I think it will be a good team. Hopefully we'll have luck on our side and we'll reach the final."

And maybe with some luck or some intuition, "Chicharito" will score again in front of an expected sold out Houston crowd. It could be another moment in his memory bank.

Ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com