Salvadorans stun Mexico in WC2010 qualifier

Eliseo Quintanilla’s penalty kick in the 86th minute gave El Salvador a stunning 2-1 triumph over Mexico to damage the favored Tri-color’s bid to reach the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

A handball penalty in the area against Mexico set the stage for Quintanilla to become the hero and boost the Salvadorans into third place – the final guaranteed World Cup qualifying position – in the six-team round-robin event.

It was a debut defeat for new Mexico manager Javier Aguirre.

Aguirre, who guided Mexico to the round of 16 in the 2002 World Cup, replaced fired former England manager Sven Goran-Eriksson after Mexico’s 3-1 loss at Honduras in April.

But the problems with the Mexican side remained even with the change in leadership.

Julio Martinez had given El Salavador the lead with a goal in the 11th minute. Mexico pulled even on Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s penalty kick in the 71st minute, but that only set the stage for the final deadly blow.

The Salvadorans took their first triumph of the final qualifying round against a loss and two draws for five points, one ahead of Honduras and two better than the Mexicans, who sank to 1-3 for three points, only one more than winless doormat Trinidad and Tobago.