Mexico down USA 2-1 in key World Cup qualifier

Miguel Sabah’s 81st-minute goal lifted Mexico to a 2-1 victory over the United States in a 2010 World Cup qualifier in the North and Central America and Caribbean region.

With the victory Mexico kept the United States winless at Azteca Stadium and bolstered their own chances of advancing from the six-nation final round of qualifying into next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

Sabah, who came on in the 78th, needed just minutes to make his presence felt with his blast past US keeper Tim Howard.

Charlie Davies had given the United States the lead with his ninth-minute strike, and Israel Castro equalized 10 minutes later.

Mexico had gone into the match lying fourth in the group, from which the top three teams automatically advance to the World Cup finals. The fourth-placed team will play off for a berth against a team from South America.

The United States started the match lying second to Costa Rica, who were playing at Honduras later in the day. Winless Trinidad and Tobago hosted El Salvador in the day’s other match.