Mexico Moves Step Closer to Goal

Mexico moved within a victory of qualifying for the 1998 World Cup, routing El Salvador, 5-0, Sunday behind two goals by Benjamin Galindo.

Mexico (4-0-2) leads the six-nation final round of qualifying from soccer’s North and Central American region with 14 points and can clinch one of the area’s three berths by winning when it plays Canada next Sunday at Edmonton.

Jamaica (3-2-3) dropped to second with 12 points, followed by the United States (2-1-4) with 10, El Salvador (2-3-3) with nine, Costa Rica (2-4-2) with eight and Canada (1-4-2) with five.

The Americans’ final games are at Mexico on Nov. 2, at Canada on Nov. 9 and against El Salvador at Foxboro, Mass., on Nov. 16.

Before 110,000 fans in Guillermo Canedo Stadium, Galindo scored in the 30th minute, Alberto Garcia Aspe connected five minutes later and Galindo converted a penalty kick in the 38th.

Roberto Alves scored three minutes into the second half and Luis Garcia added the final goal in the 81st minute.

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CONCACAF Standings

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Team W L T GF GA Pts Mexico 4 0 2 18 2 14 Jamaica 3 2 3 5 10 12 U.S. 2 1 4 10 7 10 El Salvador 2 3 3 7 10 9 Costa Rica 2 4 2 7 8 8 Canada 1 4 2 2 12 5

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