© AFP

Costa Rica and Mexico are the first of four CONCACAF nations to win their way through to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011.

Mexico secured their twelfth appearance at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, bouncing back after failing to win through to the 2009 edition of the tournament in Egypt. El Tri held a 1-0 half-time lead over Canada in their CONCACAF U-20 Championship quarter-final thanks to a Kristian Alvarez strike. Second-half goals from Diego De Buen and Jorge Mora sealed a 3-0 victory in Guatemala City.

A third straight win without conceding a goal has Mexico 180 minutes shy of their first U-20 CONCACAF crown since 1992.

The early match of the evening saw Costa Rica secure passage to Colombia 2011 in stylish fashion with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Cuba.

Cuba held high hopes of a maiden qualification for a FIFA U-20 World Cup when Yaudel Lahera gave them an early opener. However Costa Rica had taken the lead by the half-hour mark, before overpowering their opponents with a strong second-half display. Joel Campbell, one of Costa Rica’s key players from the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, scored a hat-trick with Mynor Miller, Bryan Vega and Joshua Diaz also on target.

Costa Rica have appeared in seven previous FIFA U-20 World Cups finishing in fourth place at Egypt 2009.

The two remaining berths will take place on Wednesday with Honduras meeting Panama, while Guatemala will face USA.