Mexico's problems continued as it struggled to put away Nicaragua, playing for the first time at the Gold Cup, and lost young star Carlos Vela with an injury 10 minutes into the game in Oakland, Calif.

The Tri needed a fortunate penalty luck in the last minute of the first half and a goal in the 85st minute to win, 2-0, before 32,057 fans.

Loic Loval scored a goal and assisted on David Fleurival as Guadeloupe, the 2007 semifinalist, beat Panama, 2-1.

The surprise of the first day was El Salvador's 2-1 win over Hexagonal leader Costa Rica.

Group A
Canada 1 (Gerba 75) Jamaica 0
El Salvador 2 (Romero 20, 87) Costa Rica 1 (Granados 65)
Standings:
TEAM GP W T L GF GA P
El Salvador 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
Canada 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Costa Rica 1 0 1 0 1 2 0
Jamaica 1 0 1 0 0 1 0

Group B
USA 4 (Adu 7, Holden 31, Rogers 60, Davies 31 Grenada 0
Honduras 1 (Costly 76) Haiti 0
Standings:
TEAM GP W T L GF GA P
United States 1 1 0 0 4 0 3
Honduras 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Haiti 1 0 1 0 0 1 0
Grenada 1 0 1 0 0 4 0

Group C
Guadeloupe 2 (Loval 33, Fleurival 43) Panama 1 (Barahona 68)
Mexico 2 (Noriega pen. 45, Barrera 85) Nicaragua 0
Standings:
TEAM GP W T L GF GA P
Mexico 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Guadeloupe 1 1 0 0 2 1 3
Panama 1 0 1 0 1 2 0
Nicaragua 1 0 1 0 0 1 0