Honduras did it again. For the fourth time in the last four World Cup qualifying cycles, the Catrachos beat Mexico in San Pedro Sula. They got two goals from Carlos Costly and one from the former Los Angeles Galaxy striker Carlos Pavon and defeated the reeling Tri, 3-1. The result propelled Honduras into third place and dropped Mexico into fourth. Costa Rica claimed second behind the first-place USA thanks to a 1-0 win over El Salvador.

HONDURAS-MEXICO. It was the third time Pavon was instrumental in leading Honduras past Mexico. He scored in 1996 and had a hat trick in 2001.

The 2001 loss resulted in the firing of Coach Enrique Meza, and Wednesday's defeat could signal the end of the line for Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Rarely has the Mexico defense -- again playing without suspended captain Rafael Marquez -- looked as shaky as it did against Honduras.

Costly snuck behind the Tri backline to put Honduras ahead after only 17 minutes. Pavon added a goal just before halftime, and Costly made it 3-0 in the 78th minute before Nery Castillo struck a consolation goal from the penalty spot.

COSTA RICA-EL SALVADOR. The Ticos remained one point behind the USA thanks to its win at the Saprissa Stadium. Veteran Walter Centeno, playing a Costa Rican record 125th international match, scored on a header midway through the second half to the relief of anxious Tico fans.

Costa Rica missed a penalty kick in the first half when Andy Furtado's shot was stopped by Salvadoran keeper Miguel Montes.

April 1 in San Pedro Sula
Honduras 3 Mexico 1. Goals: Costly 17, 78, Pavon 43; N.Castillo pen. 81.
Honduras -- Valladares, Sabillon, O.Chavez, Figueroa,  Izaguirre, Guevara, Palacios,, Nunez (Turcios, 73), de Leon (M.Chavez, 89), Costly (Thomas, 82), Pavon.
Mexico -- G.Ochoa, Fausto Pinto, Lopez (Galindo, 27), Salcido, Magallon, Leandro Augusto, Pardo, Perez (Vuoso, 46), Guardado, Vela, Bravo (N.Castillo, 70).
Red card: Mexico -- Salcido 87.
Referee: Paul Ward (Canada).
Att.: 30,000.

April 1 in San Jose
Costa Rica 1 El Salvador 0. Goal: Centeno 69.
Costa Rica -- Navas, Fernandez, Myrie, Diaz, Umana, Barrantes (Brenes, 46), Centeno, Borges, Alonso (Herrera, 56), Ruiz, Furtado (Hernandez, 62).
El Salvador -- Montes, M.Gonzalez, Henriquez, Salazar, Pacheco, Martinez, Sanchez, Monteagudo (R.Gonzalez, 68), Alas (Torres, 77), Romero, Zelaya (Blanco, 83).
Referee: Jair Antonio Marrufo (USA).
Att.: 20,000.

Standings:
1. USA 7 points (7-2)
2. Costa Rica 6 points (3-2)
3. Honduras 4 points (4-4)
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4. Mexico 3 points (3-5)
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5. El Salvador 2 points (4-5)
5. Trinidad & Tobago 2 points (3-6)