The Mexicans came from behind to secure a narrow 2-1 victory over a nine-man Honduras at Kansas Sporting Park, Kansas.

With both sides having already booked their places in the Olympics this summer, the pressure was off and it was Honduras – the 2008 champions – who took the lead when Romell Quioto headed home Alexander Lopez's free-kick.

Mexico bagged a late equaliser through a magnificent long-range effort from Marco Fabian (pictured top, on far left) following neat interplay between Alan Pulido and Hector Herrera.

The Mexicans ultimately took advantage of the Honduras players' exertions in the semi-finals – when they had needed extra time to beat El Salvador – to win the game with only minutes left in extra-time when Ponce (pictured below, in green) volleyed home a cross from Israel Jiménez.

Honduras was forced to enter the additional 30-minute period with only 10 men following Luis Garrido's sending off at the end of the regulation 90 minutes.

To compound matters, as Honduras chased an equaliser, Wilmer Crisanto was given his marching orders with only a minute remaining in extra-time.

The victory was the Mexicans' sixth in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying event, coming on the back of previous triumphs in 1964, 1972, 1976, 1996 and 2004.

Mexico returns to the Olympics after missing out on Beijing 2008 while, despite its defeat, Honduras will go forward to participate in its second consecutive Games.


"The character of the team is one of the best things we have," said Luis Fernando Tena, Mexico's coach.

"We have a lot of unity and determination to win.

"I am proud of the guys for that – we were not just satisfied with getting in the Olympics, we wanted to win the game, to take the title.

"We knew that the goal was going to come at some point."

Tena's opposite number, Luis Fernando Suarez, commented: "What we wanted to do for the most part was be able to last [the distance] and I think the players did a good job doing that.

"They played very intelligently.

"I knew it was tough and I value the effort of my players."

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