Henry Martin's goal just after halftime sent Mexico on its way to a 3-1 win over Haiti on Thursday in Group B play at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Glendale, Ariz.
With the result, Mexico (2-0-0, 6 points) clinched a spot in the quarterfinals ahead of its final group game against Qatar on Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif. Haiti (1-1-0, 3 points) would earn a quarterfinal berth if it can defeat Honduras on Sunday in Charlotte.
Following a scoreless first half, Mexico needed just 45 seconds in the second half to jump on top. Uriel Antuna fired a cross to the top of the 6-yard box, and Martin powered in a header to put Mexico on top.
An own goal by Haiti's Ricardo Ade in the 56th minute doubled the lead before Haiti's Danley Jean Jacques scored on a header off a Derrick Etienne corner kick in the 78th minute.
Santiago Gimenez gave Mexico a safe margin by capping an impressive team move by sliding to tap in a pass from Antuna.
Honduras 1, Qatar 1
Alberth Elis scored with moments remaining in second-half stoppage time, lifting Honduras to a draw with Qatar in a CONCACAF Gold Cup Group B game on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz.
Qatar had led since Tameem Mansour headed in a goal in the seventh minute.
The result keeps Qatar (0-1-1, 1 point) and Honduras (0-1-1, 1 point) winless through their first two matches.
Qatar was seconds away from a win before a set piece allowed Mansour to deliver a high ball from the left side to near the penalty spot. Rubilio Castillo nodded the ball down, and Elis made an acrobatic move to knock a right-footed shot over Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.
In the key moment of the first half, Moustafa Tarek drove down the left flank with the ball and centered a pass to the middle of the penalty area, where Mansour headed it past Honduras goalkeeper Edrick Menjivar.
Barsham made three saves, while Menjivar was credited with two saves.
--Field Level Media
(Photo credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK)
