Late Soccer Capsules: Mexico edges Trinidad and Tobago 2-1

MEXICO CITY - Oscar Rojas scored a tiebreaking goal in the 51st minute, leading Mexico to a 2-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago and giving El Tri a badly needed win in World Cup qualifying.

Guillermo Franco put Mexico ahead in the first minute, chipping a shot over Clayton Ince as the goalkeeper came out hoping to beat Franco to the ball.

Hayden Tinto tied it in first-half injury time with a 16-yard shot over Oscar Perez, who was caught flat-footed after Tinto faked crossing into the penalty area.

Midway through the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, Costa Rica (4-1) leads with 12 points, followed by the United States (3-1-1) with 10, Honduras (2-2-1) with seven, Mexico (2-3) with six, El Salvador (1-2-2) with five and Trinidad (0-3-2) with two.

The top three teams qualify, and No. 4 meets the fifth-place nation from South America in a playoff.

Mexico's next qualifier is at home on Aug. 12 against the United States, one of three home matches remaining for El Tri.

Coming off its first World Cup appearance, the Soca Warriors also have three home games left, but included are meetings with the United States (Sept. 9) and Mexico (Oct. 14).

Ecuador upsets Argentina 2-0 

QUITO, Ecuador - Diego Maradona isn't worried.

Argentina has lost two of its last three World Cup qualifiers, but the coach is confident his team will advance to next year's World Cup.

"Looking at the effort that this group put out today, we're going to qualify for South Africa," he said after Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Ecuador. "But in football when you don't score you pay for it. I have no criticism of my players. They did all I asked."

Carlos Tevez failed to convert a penalty kick in the 29th minute for the two-time champions. Ecuador's Walter Ayovi then beat goalkeeper Mariano Andujar in the 72nd minute and Pablo Palacios scored in the 84th.

Tevez, a Manchester United star who paired up front with Barcelona's Lionel Messi, had a chance to put the Albiceleste ahead early, but his penalty kick was blocked by goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga, who was born in Argentina.

Quito's 9,300-feet altitude appeared to bother Argentina, just as the 12,000-foot altitude in La Paz did during a 6-1 loss at Bolivia in April.

Argentina (6-4-4), which hosts Brazil in its next qualifier on Sept. 5, is fourth in South America with 22 points, trailing Brazil and Paraguay (24 each) and Chile (23) going into games later Wednesday. Ecuador (5-4-5) was fifth with 20.

"We have picked up two important victories in the last few days to keep up our hopes of reaching the World Cup," Ecuador coach Sixto Vizuete said.

The top four South American teams qualify for next year's World Cup, and the No. 5 team goes to a playoff against the fourth-place team from North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Robino, Nilmar rally Brazil over Paraguay 2-1

RECIFE, Brazil - Robinho tied the score in the 41st minute and Nilmar got the go-ahead goal in the 49th, leading Brazil over Paraguay 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday night and putting the five-time champions in good position to advance to next year's tournament in South Africa.

Salvador Cabanas put Paraguay ahead in the 26th minute, just the sixth goal against Brazil in 14 qualifying matches.

Brazil (7-1-6) leads South America with 27 points, three ahead of Paraguay (7-4-3).

Four games remain, and Brazil's next qualifier is Sept. 5 at Argentina. The top four teams qualify, and No. 5 goes to a playoff against the fourth-place nation in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

England routs Andorra 6-0 in World Cup qualifying

WEMBLEY, England - With David Beckham back in the starting lineup, England moved within a victory of World Cup berth by routing Andorra 6-0 Wednesday night.

Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe scored two goals apiece, and Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch each had one. Rooney finished the international season with 10 goals, the most for England since Gary Lineker in 1990-91.

Beckham made his 112th international appearance, starting in central midfield in place of Gareth Barry, who was suspended, and Michael Carrick, who is injured. The 34-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder, 13 appearances shy of the English record set by goalkeeper Peter Shilton, hadn't started a competitive international match since a European Championship qualifier against Estonia in June 2007.

"Being in the center of midfield gave me more time on the ball and definitely more touch with the ball," Beckham said. "I enjoyed the role."

Beckham spent the last five months on loan to AC Milan and is to rejoin the Galaxy for its July 16 match at the New York Red Bulls. He hopes to return to AC Milan in January.

"Beckham was chosen because he is still one of the best players," England manager Fabio Capello said.

While Beckham has 17 goals since his national team debut in 1996, he has never scored at Wembley. Fans shouted "shoot, shoot" in the closing moments

"It's obviously missing, but I don't care," Beckham said. "At the end of the day, I'm happy with being in this team. I'm happy with performing in this team and playing with these players because it's a great team and a great squad to be around at the moment. Whether I score or not at Wembley, we'll see. As long as we carry on winning, I don't care."

England (7-0) leads Europe Group Six with 21 points and can clinch its fourth straight World Cup appearance with a victory over Croatia (3-1-2) at Wembley on Sept. 9.

"There is always going to be high expectation because of the players we've got," said Beckham, the team's former captain. "We've got to be careful. We've won seven games. We've put in seven good performances, but we're not a team that gets carried away and we're not a squad that gets carried away. We can't afford to."

Attendance was 57,897, the lowest for England at Wembley since the rebuilt stadium opened in 2007. The crowd was held down due to a strike by subway workers.

Rooney scored in the fourth and 39th minutes, around a 29th-minute goal by Lampard.

Beckham, who had a low free kick saved just before halftime, initiated the fourth goal with a corner kick to Glen Johnson, whose cross was headed in by Defoe in the 73rd.

Defoe scored again two minutes later after Beckham's free kick was parried by goalkeeper Koldo Alvarez, and Crouch got the final goal in the 80th.

"The fans deserved those goals because we all knew it wouldn't be easy to get to the game," Beckham said. "Those goals and the performance were for the fans."

-- Rob Harris