Mexico Finds a Way Into World Cup

MEXICO CITY —  With more than 100,000 fans providing thunderous support, Mexico on Sunday completed a fairy-tale comeback from the abyss of elimination and qualified for the 2002 World Cup soccer tournament with a 3-0 victory over Honduras.

After a scoreless first half, Mexican forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco broke through with the decisive goal in the 66th minute. Six minutes later, forward Juan Francisco Palencia added a second goal, and Blanco scored the last goal in the 79th minute on a penalty kick.

The victory gave Mexico the final spot in the World Cup for the North and Central America and Caribbean group (CONCACAF). The United States and Costa Rica are the other two qualifiers in the region. Honduras had to win to qualify, while Mexico would advanced with a tie because of a slight edge in goals scored.

The final whistle brought tens of thousands of people pouring into the streets across the country in noisy, horn-honking celebrations.

As recently as June, Mexico appeared headed for elimination from the World Cup--and toward national humiliation. Mexico had lost at home June 16 to Costa Rica, 2-1, its first defeat in a World Cup qualifier in Azteca Stadium. Four days later, Mexico lost to Honduras, 3-1, sending it to fifth place in the qualifying round.

Then two critical changes occurred. A new coach, Javier Aguirre, was named to replace Enrique Meza. Aguirre quickly put Mexico back on track with a 1-0 victory over the United States at Azteca Stadium in July.

Blanco, meanwhile, returned to the team in September after almost a year on the injury list. He had suffered badly torn ligaments in his right knee from a vicious tackle during a qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago in October 2000.

Blanco dominated the contest Sunday, as he has stood out in most of Mexico’s matches since coming on at halftime against Jamaica in September and scoring both goals in Mexico’s 2-1 victory.

Mexico went on to beat Trinidad and Tobago, 3-0--but last month managed only a 0-0 tie with Costa Rica, and it suddenly seemed as if the comeback had stalled. But that same day, Oct. 7, Honduras collapsed inexplicably at home, losing to Trinidad and Tobago, 1-0. Victory would have meant virtual qualification, and Mexico’s ouster.

The upset loss made Sunday’s game against Mexico decisive, and Honduras was on the ropes from the start: Apart from Mexico’s loss to Costa Rica in June, it had amassed a 54-0-4 record at Azteca in qualifying matches since 1934.

Sunday’s outcome was sweet for Mexico, which was eliminated from the 1982 World Cup in Spain when it could do no better than a tie with Honduras in the final qualifier. That was the only time Honduras has qualified.

And it was Honduras that kept Mexico out of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Mexico now will compete in its 12th World Cup. It was barred from the 1990 Cup in Italy for using over-age players on its under-23 team in a tournament the previous year. In all it has missed only three final rounds since 1950.

Azteca Stadium, which has a capacity of 105,400 but appeared even fuller, was packed two hours before the game began. Scalpers were reported to have sold $30 tickets for $200. The Honduras fans, numbering a couple of thousand in blue and white, were overwhelmed by the cacophony from the home supporters.

Blanco came close to scoring four times in the first half, sending two direct kicks barely over the crossbar, nearly scoring on a pass from Palencia in the 32nd minute and then sending a header skimming over the bar three minutes later.

But the midfield never settled down for Mexico in the first half. Early in the second half, Aguirre substituted aggressive midfielder Ramon Morales for the aging Alberto Garcia Aspe, and the plays suddenly started to click.

The chant went up: Si, se puede , meaning “It can be done!” And when Honduras star Carlos Pavon, who scored all three goals against Mexico in June, was sidelined by an injury midway through the second half, the visitors’ prospects faded.

Blanco’s first goal came on a cross from Morales to Johan Rodriguez, who headed it to Blanco as he hovered at the penalty spot.

Palencia’s goal was a duet with Blanco. Palencia passed to Blanco as they advanced toward the net, Blanco flicked it back and Palencia shot low and off the hands of diving goalkeeper Noel Valladares and into the left side of the goal.

The penalty was also a Palencia-Blanco effort. Palencia broke free and hit the upright, and as Blanco grabbed the rebound he was pulled down by Valladares. His goal prompted a chorus of “Cielito Lindo” from the crowd.

People gathered on overpasses, waving flags and spewing shaving cream on cars streaming along Mexico City’s ring highway.

Several thousand people gathered afterward at the Angel of Independence statue in downtown Mexico City.

Housewife Idalia Saucedo, 39, was there with her family. “This is a national escape,” she said. “It’s an escape to get rid of our stress, and all we are going through economically in Mexico.”

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Mexico City researcher Rafael Aguirre contributed to this report.