The United States and Mexico reeled off wins in CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers on Saturday on a day that mixed soccer with politics. The US beat Cuba 1-0 in Havana, their first visit to the Caribbean island for 61 years, with a first-half Clint Dempsey goal. The third round Group A match took place against the backdrop of a 46-year-old US trade embargo against Cuba, imposed after Fidel Castro took power in a 1959 revolution and allied the country with the Soviet Union. However, the US players came out onto the pitch after the match at the rickety Pedro Marrero stadium and applauded the Cuban fans in what coach Bob Bradley said was a spontaneous gesture of appreciation. “We've been treated very well here and people have been very friendly,” he said. “It's been an excellent trip.” Tens of thousands of Mexican fans used their team's game at home to Jamaica to protest against rising crime and a brutal drug war that has killed more than 2,700 people this year. At least three quarters of the 100,000 crowd at Mexico City's Azteca stadium answered a call by the Mexican Football Federation to dress in white while the team also played in white instead of the usual green. The protest came a week after an anti-crime rally drew more than 150,000 to the city center. Mexico and the United States both top their groups with six points from two games. Ramon Nunez scored twice in the second half as Honduras came from behind to beat Canada 2-1 away in the other Group B game, while Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala drew 1-1 in Group A. Carlos Gallardo scored an injury-time equalizer for Guatemala after Keon Daniel had given the Soca Warriors an 83rd minute lead. Central American pair Costa Rica and El Salvador both went on goal sprees in Group C. Costa Rica thrashed Suriname 7-0, with four of the goals coming in the last 15 mintues, while Rodolfo Zelaya scored a hat trick to help El Salvador beat Haiti 5-0. Haiti had Pierre Bruny sent off in the 21st minute. Paraguay on top Paraguay topped the 10-team South American group with 14 points from seven games by drawing with Argentina 1-1. In other matches, Peru beat Venezuela 1-0 to move off the bottom and Colombia lost 1-0 at home to Uruguay, who jumped to third. Bolivia had Alejandro Gomez sent off after only 18 minutes and coach Erwin Sanchez ordered from the touchline in the second half in a 3-1 defeat in Ecuador. – Reuters __
