Mexico earns WC slot; US in danger

MEXICO CITY – Mexico became the fifth team to guarantee its place at the 2018 World Cup on Friday as the United States crashed to defeat at home to Costa Rica to place its qualification campaign in jeopardy.

A Hirving Lozano header on 53 minutes was enough to give Mexico a 1-0 win over Panama at the Azteca Stadium as the CONCACAF heavyweights reached the finals for a seventh successive occasion.

Mexico joins Brazil, Japan and Iran alongside hosts Russia as the teams to have confirmed their places in next year’s finals.

Friday’s win saw Mexico go top of the six-nation final qualifying round in CONCACAF, with 17 points from six games.

The result means they are guaranteed one of the automatic World Cup berths awarded to the top three finishers in the group.

But while Mexico celebrated, archrival the USA was left contemplating a road to Russia that has suddenly become much more uncertain following its 2-0 loss to 2014 World Cup quarterfinalist Costa Rica in Harrison, New Jersey.

The win left Costa Rica second in the standings on 14 points, while the USA continues to hold on to the third automatic qualifying place with eight points from seven games.

The Americans, however, are level on eight points with Honduras, which hosts the US next week in what promises to be a tense duel in the Central American nation.

Costa Rica striker Marco Urena was the hero at the Red Bull Arena, where a large contingent of Costa Rica fans in the 25,000-seat stadium made the fixture feel like an away tie for the USA.

Urena scored twice to give Costa Rica its first World Cup away win over the USA since 1985.