El Tri clinch World Cup spot
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico became the first nation in North and Central America and the Caribbean to clinch a World Cup berth, beating El Salvador 4-1 Saturday to eliminate the visitors.
Marvin Gonzalez's own goal put the hosts ahead in the 25th minute at Azteca Stadium, and Cuauhtemoc Blanco (71st minute), Francisco Palencia (84th minute) and Carlos Vega (90th) added goals.
Julio Martinez scored on a free kick in the 88th for El Salvador.
The match was delayed for 10 minutes because of a swarm of bees around the El Salvador goal.
Mexico (6-3), which qualified for its fifth straight World Cup, is first with 18 points, two ahead of the United States (5-2-1), five in front of Honduras (4-3-1) and six ahead of Costa Rica (4-4). The top three nations qualify and No. 4 goes to a playoff.
El Salvador (2-5-2) has eight points.