CANCUN, Mexico - Mexico upset the United States for the first time in 26 tries, earning a trip to the Women's World Cup with a 2-1 victory over its northern neighbor on Friday.

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Having been outscored 106-9 in their previous meetings, and never having scored more than two goals in a game, Mexico scored twice in the first 26 minutes and played most of the second half in its own end to qualify for the World Cup for the second time in its history.

The result sends Mexico against Canada on Monday in the final of the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying and pits the United States against Costa Rica in the third-place match. The winner of the consolation game will have a second chance at a World Cup berth, facing Italy - the fifth-place finisher from Europe - for another spot.

The United States had won 24 of the 25 previous meetings with Mexico, but buoyed by a large raucous crowd at Estadio Beto Avila including Mexican Football Federation President Justino Compeon, the Mexicans went ahead in the third minute.

Natalie Garcia sent a free kick from her own half to just outside the U.S. arc, where Nayeli Rangel flicked it with her head into the middle of the area. Maribel Dominguez got behind a slow-to-react Amy Lepeilbet and poked it past onrushing keeper Nicole Barnhart.

It was the sixth goal by Dominguez in the tournament and the first allowed by the United States.

The Americans were slow to respond, not building any serious possession until the 13^th minute but equalizing in the 25^th when the United States earned a corner. Erika Vanegas - the third different goalkeeper employed by Mexican manager Leo Cuellar in the tournament - punched Megan Rapinoe's corner at the right post, but it only bounded to the middle of the area.

Carli Lloyd was well positioned, and made a lunging stab to send it inside the right post.

On its ensuing possession from the kickoff, Mexico retook the lead in the 26th. Juana Lopez worked free on the right and sent a high cross into the area, where Veronica Perez was able to create space between her and Heather Mitts and nod it inside the far post.

The United States held most of the possession in the second half with Mexico occasionally countering.

The Americans managed only a few dangerous moments, the best of which came in the 78^th minute when Abby Wambach headed a deflected shot of Megan Rapinoe's that Vanegas was able to knock down and cover.

Second-half substitute Alex Morgan also forced Vanegas into a reaction save in the 85^th. The University of California junior pivoted to hit a bounding ball into the keeper from inside the six.

Both sides played the final few minutes with only 10 players each after Wambach and Kenti Robles were forced off the field with bloody head wounds from a collision outside the U.S. penalty area.

The loss was the first for the United States in the CONCACAF women's championship in 28 matches, lowering its record to 26-1-1.