A round-up of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers

CONCACAF:A Superb performance by Giovani dos Santos in a convincing 3-0 away win over Costa Rica in Tibas helped Mexico reach the World Cup automatic qualifying positions.

Javier Aguirre’s side climbed to the third place in the CONCACAF Qualifying Zone on 12 points although only goal difference separates them from Costa Rica.

Mexico took the lead seconds before half-time as Dos Santos shot from the left side to Keylor Navas’ far post. Seventeen minutes after the interval, Dos Santos set up Guillermo Franco.

Eight minutes later, Andres Guardado secured the victory after Dos Santos’ pass.

Honduras and the United States still lead the CONCACAF Qualifying Zone on 13 points after their respective wins over rock-bottom duo Trinidad Tobago and El Salvador.

Carlos Pavon netted a brace (19th and 28th minutes) and Amado Guevara and David Suazo added one each (62nd and 83rd minute, respectively) as Honduras beat Trinidad Tobago 4-1.

In Sandy, Utah, first-half goals by Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore were enough for the US team to come back from a goal down and beat El Salvador 2-1.

The match did not start well for Bob Bradley’s side as Christian Castillo gave El Salvador the lead at the 32nd, assisted by Rodolfo Zelaya.

Dempsey levelled 11 minutes later before Landon Donovan assisted Altidore, who converted his header in first half added time.

AFRICA:Ghana beat Sudan 2-0 yesterday to reach the World Cup finals for a second straight time. They had never qualified before the 2006 edition of the four-yearly tournament.

Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien scored in Accra for Ghana, who are the eighth team to book a spot in the finals.

Host nation South Africa, five-time winners Brazil, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, South Korea and North Korea are also assured of places.

Ghana have won all four of their matches in the third stage of African qualifying.

Benin and Mali drew 1-1 in the other Group D game, meaning neither can take top spot. Only the five African group winners advance.

A brace from Didier Drogba helped Ivory Coast the brink of a place in the competition after a crushing 5-0 win over Burkina Faso on Saturday. A point from their remaining two games will be enough to see them qualfy.

The Chelsea striker scored in the 49th and 65th minutes adding to an own goal by Saidou Panandetiguiri (12). There were further goals from Yaya Toure (55) and Abdulkader Keita (69).

EUROPE:Marc Janko scored twice as Austria kept alive their slim qualification hopes with victory over Brian Kerr's Faroe Islands in Graz.

The home side took the lead in the first minute through Stefan Maierhofer and Janko then netted 15 minutes later to double the advantage.

Janko got his second from the penalty spot after 59 minutes before Andreas Olsen netted a consolation for the visitors.