Mexico on Thursday secured their spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup knockout stage with a game to spare after beating Haiti 3-1 in Glendale, Arizona.
The win, with all the goals coming in the second half, means Mexico lead Group B with six points from two games, with Haiti three points behind.
Qatar and Honduras both have a point each after they drew 1-1 after a stoppage-time equalizer from the Central Americans.
Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today
Mexico dominated the opening 45 minutes, but were unable to find a way past Haiti goalkeeper Alexandre Pierre.
Pierre almost gifted El Tri an opener in the fourth minute when he fumbled a low cross, but Edison Alvarez, with the goal at his mercy, struck the post.
Haiti came close when a counterattack down the right ended with Carlens Arcus finding an opening, but his shot from a promising position flashed into the side-netting.
Mexico wasted another opportunity three minutes before halftime when a defensive slipup left Henry Martin unmarked, but his shot was poor, straight at Pierre.
However, whatever Mexico interim coach Jaime Lozano said at halftime delivered instant results, with Henry Martin finding the target just 41 seconds after the restart.
A Ricardo Ade own-goal made it 2-0 when the Haiti defender’s attempt to intercept a low cross from Jesus Gallardo ended up in his own net, but Haiti remained determined and gave themselves a lifeline with a 78th-minute header from Danley Jean Jacques from a Derrick Etienne Jr corner.
With the Caribbean side pushing forward, Mexico exploited the space to settle the game — Uriel Antuna’s great low ball across the penalty area turned in at the back post by Santiago Gimenez.
Qatar took the lead against Honduras in the eighth minute when Tameem Mansour rose to head home an excellent cross from Mostafa Meshaal.
Honduras struggled to create clear-cut chances, but Jose Pinto went close in the 87th minute when he cut in from the left, but his right-foot shot was superbly saved by Meshaal Barsham.
In the sixth and final minute of stoppage-time, a Pinto deep ball into the penalty area was headed down by Rubilio Castillo and Alberth Elis hooked in the equalizer.
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