BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 30 (UPI) -- Eddie Johnson and Steve Ralston scored Wednesday night to give the United States a 2-0 win over Guatemala in a World Cup qualifying match.
The Americans also received an unexpected boost when Mexico settled for a 1-1 tie against Panama and when Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago played to a scoreless draw.
Those results left Mexico ahead of the six-team qualifying group with seven points while the Americans have six.
Guatemala and Costa Rica have four points each and Panama and Trinidad and Tobago have one each.
The top three teams advance to next year's World Cup.
The action in Birmingham and Panama ended a rush of qualifying that saw 77 matches played around the globe in six days. The next qualifying matches will not be played until June.
Among the other highlights Wednesday was Israel's 1-1 tie with France, which left those two countries in a tie for the lead in Europe's Group 4. Ireland and Switzerland are just one point behind in the group as France faces an unexpected struggle.
England maintained a one-point lead in Group 6 while Croatia moved ahead of Sweden in Group 8.
