half-time to shock Costa Rica 3-2 as Group A qualifiers began yesterday.

Mexico dominated throughout the game, allowing the Vincentians only three shots on the goal.

Zague Alces scored the first goal of the game in the 25th minute.

Claudio Suarez scored in the second half in the 57th minute. Juan Francisco Uribe scored the final two goals -- in the 71st minute and the 81st minute.

Vincentian goalkeeper Sitzerald Bramble had to leave the field in the 10th minute after colliding with Mexican Carlos Hermosillo Goytortua. He was replaced by Elton Johnson.

A capacity crowd of 5,500 viewed the match at the Arnos Vale field.

The fans, many of whom wore yellow T-shirts with the slogan "Score to be Sure,'' shouted "We want goals'' throughout the game.

Costa Rica, finalists in 1990, had a dream start to their campaign when Austin Berry in the second minute. Luis Diego Arnaez put them two up in the 35th minute before the Hondurans made their unlikely comeback.

Dolmo Flores netted two minutes after the restart and the host team, watched by 15,000, were further rocked when Richardson Smith and Cesar Obando scored 10 minutes apart deep in the second half.