Mexico dominates New Zealand 5-1, edges closer to World Cup

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http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/mexico-5-1-zealand-el-tri-dominates-close-223000923--spt.html

It was a high-stakes match for a struggling Mexican national team. And El Tri lived up to the pressure.

Mexico was given a lifeline by the United States on the final day of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying to even get to this point. They had fallen to Costa Rica on the road but the U.S. scored late in its match against Panama to eliminate La Marea Roja and allow El Tri through to the playoff.

In the first match of a two-leg playoff between two nations located on opposite sides of the globe, Mexico struck early and often, as it coasted to a convincing 5-1 victory over New Zealand at the intimidating Estadio Azteca on Wednesday afternoon.

With tensions high, Paul Aguilar gave the home crowd something to cheer about with the game's first goal in the 17th minute before El Tri fired off four more goals.

Raul Jimenez, Oribe Peralta and Rafa Marquez also found the net or El Tri before New Zealand's Christian James scored for the visitors just minutes before the two sides were set to move on to the second leg next Wednesday in Wellington.