Mexico staggered to a vital 2-1 win over Trinidad & Tobago in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, the victory keeping alive their hopes of automatic qualification for next year's finals.

The result came as a relief to the hosts after back-to-back

defeats in Honduras and El Salvador, but was not enough to

squeeze into the top three places of the CONCACAF final stage

group that would guarantee a place in South Africa.

As the six-team pool reached its halfway mark, Mexico lie

in fourth place on six points from five games, one point behind

Honduras.

A fourth-placed finish would leave them with the unenviable

prospect of a two-leg playoff against the fifth team from South

America, currently Ecuador.

Javier Aguirre's team got of to a perfect start when

Guillermo Franco collected a pass on the right, cut inside and

slipped the goal past Clayton Ince in the first minute.

Mexico wasted chances to add to their lead and paid when

Hayden Tinto pounced on a defensive mistake and fired into the

top corner on the stroke of halftime.

The hosts regained the lead three minutes after the break

when Oscar Rojas scored from outside the area.

The defeat left the Soca Warriors bottom with two points

from five games.