Mexico 2 - 1 Trinidad & Tobago

Unconvincing Mexico struggle to win

Updated: June 10, 2009, 3:00 AM ET

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.