MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Mexicans never imagined being in this position: Having to shamefully say “gracias” to bitter rivals the United States for helping their football team stay in contention for next year’s World Cup.

Losing 2-1 to Costa Rica on Tuesday, Mexico were flirting with disaster until Uncle Sam, who had already qualified, rode to the rescue by scoring two stoppage time goals to defeat Panama 3-2.

The US victory torpedoed Panama’s dream of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time while helping Mexico finish fourth in the CONCACAF regional group and secure a two-leg playoff against Oceania champions New Zealand next month.

More than a year after Mexico celebrated winning the gold medal at the London Olympics, Mexican media berated “El Tri” while running headlines in English to express gratitude to adversaries they regularly disparage as “gringos”.

“Gracias Uncle Sam,” “Thank you, USA!” and “God bless America” were some of the front-page news headlines hours after the federation US Soccer had cheekily tweeted “YoureWelcomeMexico.”

The sports daily Record published a photo montage of Manchester United forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez holding a US flag, with the purposely misspelled headline “WE LOVE YOU! ‘AMIGOUS'” .

The Cancha sports pages said Mexico’s qualifying campaign had been “one of the most shameful performances in its history” after the “broken” team played with “no courage”.

But Mexico manager Victor Manuel Vucetich, brought in last month to save the team, insisted he did not have to “send any message” to US counterpart Jurgen Klinsmann, though he praised US “football ethics and professionalism”.

Missing out on the World Cup in Brazil next year would be emotional and financial torment for Mexico.

The country has seen its team play in 14 of the last 19 tournaments and last missed it in 1990 because the Mexican football federation had fielded overaged players in a youth championship.

The sports marketing firm Dreamatch Solutions estimates that broadcasters, sponsors and other businesses stand to lose $600 million if Mexico fail to qualify.

Former Mexican president Felipe Calderon, recalling that he had met the gold medal winners last year, tweeted “What happened?”

Shouts of joy were heard in Mexico City bars when the US scored, but fans were angry at their team’s performance, especially since some make millions playing for wealthy European clubs.

In 10 qualifiers, Mexico won just twice and scored a paltry seven goals. Mexicans expected better after Raul Alonso Jimenez scored a memorable bicycle kick last Friday to beat Panama.

“The team is worthless. They make a lot of money and do nothing,” said Angel Hernandez, 30, eating an orange at a taco stand in a market.

Across his stall, 40-year-old Ivan Pena sliced jalapeno peppers as he wondered how Mexico could have lost when all they needed was a draw to secure the fourth spot.

“It’s to cry for. We barely made it,” Pena said. “It’s embarrassing. How can we be in the playoff when we had the opportunity to do better?”

In a stand lined with children’s socks for sale, Fernando Rosas said having to thank the United States “is not gratifying” since “Mexico is supposedly better than the United States in football.”

Failing to qualify would be “disappointing because we are used to seeing them in the World Cup,” Rosas said.

Defeating New Zealand — who drew with then defending world champions Italy in the 2010 finals in the group stage — will be difficult, he added, “but we hope Mexico win for their own good and for the good of all Mexicans.”