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Mexico snapped the eight-game win streak of Brazil with a 2-0 victory on Sunday, highlighting the final round of preparation games before the opening of the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
Giovani Dos Santos and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez both scored for the second straight game as Mexico won for the fifth time in six games since losing a friendly to Brazil in November in Torreon.
The final weekend of matches before Friday's start of qualifying also included intraregional match-ups between Canada and the United States, arch-rivals Honduras and El Salvador on Saturday, and Friday's clashes between Guatemala and Costa Rica, and Panama and Jamaica.
Canada and the Americans drew 0-0, Honduras downed El Salvador 3-0, Guatemala edged Costa Rica 1-0 and Panama topped Jamaica 2-1. Puerto Rico also beat Nicaragua 3-1 on Friday and the two drew 1-1 on Sunday in a pair friendlies between the two in Bayamon.
Dos Santos scored with Mexico's first shot on goal in the 22nd minute. It came despite Brazil, using the same starting lineup it used against the United States four days earlier in a 4-1 victory, controlling the possession early but generating little of its own danger outside of a disallowed goal by Leandro Damilao in the ninth minute voided for offside.
The Tottenham midfielder took a seemingly innocent-looking cross-field pass from Pablo Barrera, settling it on the left, challenging Brazilian defender Danilo before stepping toward the byline and lofting a ball over goalkeeper Rafael that clipped the far post before dropping in the goal.
Mexico doubled the lead 11 minutes later when Juan's attempted tackle on Dos Santos, standing with the ball at his feet and his back to goal at the corner of the six, brought down the 23-year-old Mexican, and Chicharito, who made his first start in three games, converted the penalty.
Mexico manager Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre appeared to be settling on a lineup, including Monterrey defender Severo Meza, who made his debut for El Tri on May 27 against Wales, at right back. Meza, who set up the first of Aldo De Nigris' goals against Wales, drew his first international yellow card in the 82nd after fouling and then shoving Neymar.
Brazil continued to look the more dangerous side in the second half, but Mexican keeper Jesus Corona was able to make a handful of saves and Alexandre Pato's flub in the 77th enabled Mexico to earn the shutout.
Mexico will open its qualifying effort against Guyana in Mexico City while Brazil, with its largely under-23 side, will conclude its four-match tour with a finale against Argentina outside New York on June 9.
Canada 0, United States 0
In Toronto, Canada culminated the centennial celebrations of its federation founding before a crowd of 15,247 at BMO Field, spoiling for the United States the reunification of Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan in the starting lineup for the first time since last year's Gold Cup.
The result stretched the Americans' unbeaten streak against Canada to 15 games, not having lost since 1985.
Both teams incurred injury woes with U.S. left back Fabian Johnson suffering a mild right calf strain during pre-game warm-up and being replaced by Edgar Castillo, while Canada was without Atiba Hutchinson due to a sore knee.
Coming off Wednesday's 4-1 loss to Brazil, after which U.S. manager Juergen Klinsmann prodded his team to be more "nasty," the Americans controlling most of the possession from the outset.
Canada, however, limited the U.S. chances with a strong defensive effort.
"The objective was to work on certain things as a team that we think we need to do to go forward. It wasn't about stopping any particular players," Canada coach Stephen Hart said. "I thought we showed good organization, good patience defensively and it allowed us to get several opportunities on the transition and counterattack."
The closest either side came to scoring was when Nik Ledgerwood's apparent goal in the 34th minute was disallowed for a foul.
The Americans' best chance came in injury time when Clarence Goodson drove a header from Michael Bradley's free kick just under the bar, but Canadian keeper Lars Hirschfeld tipped it over.
Canada will head to Havana to face Cuba to open qualifying, while the Americans return home to meet Antigua and Barbuda in Tampa.
Honduras 3, El Salvador 0
In Washington, Honduras ended a three-game winless streak, getting second-half goals from Carlo Costly and Allan Lalin before a sellout crowd to 41,780 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, home of four-time U.S. league champion D.C. United.
El Salvador, which won all six games in the last round of World Cup qualifying, has not beaten Honduras since 2007, winless in eight matches.
Victor Bernardez gave Honduras the lead in the 11th with Costly adding his in the 50th and Lalin in the 83rd. "Los Catrachos,"who finished with 10 men after the expulsion of Brayan Beckles moments before Lalin's goal, will begin its World Cup qualifying campaign at home against Panama while El Salvador will start at Costa Rica.
Guatemala 1, Costa Rica 0
In Guatemala City, Carlos Ruiz scored his third goal in two games and "Los Chapines" avenged its 3-2 loss in San Jose, Costa Rica, a week earlier.
Guatemala's victory came four days after it announced it had dismissed five players from its training camp. Captain Gustavo Cabrera Guillermo "Pando" Ramirez and Yony Flores were removed while the Guatemala federation said it was conducting a preliminary investigation into accusations of match-fixing.
Edy Castillo and Juan Jose Valenzuela were sent home reportedly due to poor form. Erwin Morales was the only player called in to replace the five.
Ruiz scored the only goal in the 25th minute, adding to the pair he scored against Costa Rica on May 25.
Guatemala resumes its qualifying effort against Jamaica.
Panama 2, Jamaica 1
In Panama City, Luis Renteria's goal in the 77th minute gave Panama its second win over the Reggae Boyz in five days. Blas Perez put Panama ahead in the 33rd but Dane Richards equalized nine minutes later.
Renteria also scored the only goal in Panama's 1-0 win over Jamaica on May 27.
Jamaica has scored one goal or less in each of its last four matches.
