World Cup co-hosts Mexico beat Australia 1-0 in Rose Bowl warmup

May 30 : World Cup co-hosts Mexico savoured a confidence-building 1-0 friendly win over Australia in front of a mammoth crowd at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, a result that left both sides' coaches with hard choices as they prepare to name their squads for the tournament.

A Johan Vasquez header from a set-piece gave Mexico the lead in the 28th minute, and the much-changed team held on successfully despite a better second half from the Socceroos following a shaky start.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre made nine changes from the starting 11 that beat Ghana 2-0 in a friendly in Puebla last week.

There was much to like about the performance of the fringe line-up, barring a howling mistake in defence that should have cost an equalising goal in added time before the main interval.

A long ball forward put Mexico in disarray, with a poor clearance going straight to Mohamed Toure on the edge of the area as goalkeeper Raul Rangel charged off his line.

But the Socceroos striker volleyed wide with an empty goal at his mercy, drawing a collective gasp from the pro-Mexico crowd of 78,479.

That was Australia's only genuine chance in an opening half in which they were generally under siege.

Chavez blazed over from long range in the 10th minute, and goalkeeper Mat Ryan had to make a fine save 15 minutes later when he tipped a close-range header from Alexis Vega over the bar.

The pressure finally told as Vega swung in a corner kick and Vasquez soared over Aiden O'Neill to thump in a header off the left post.

DRINKS BREAKS

Simulating World Cup conditions, the friendly included mid-half drinks breaks, but their timing - the first in the 32nd minute and the second in the 79th - appeared confusingly ad hoc.

The teams were also permitted 11 substitutions for