San Jose: Mexico will play New Zealand for a spot in next year's World Cup despite losing 2-1 at Costa Rica on Tuesday night.
The Mexicans advanced to the home-and-home series when the United States rallied with two late goals to win at Panama. That kept Mexico in fourth place at the conclusion of the CONCACAF final qualifying round with only 11 points, three ahead of Panama, which would have advanced by holding off the Americans.
Mexico and New Zealand will play next month.
Goals by Brian Ruiz in the first half and Alvaro Saborio in the second gave Costa Rica the win. The Ticos already had qualified for Brazil 2014 and wound up second to the United States in the round.
Oribe Peralta scored in the 29th minute for Mexico, which won only two games in the 10-game finals.
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