CATHERINE HALL, St James — The Mexican machine kept rolling in Group B of the CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship after beating Honduras 3-0 in their top-of-the-table clash at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Thursday for their third straight victory.

With the group winners guaranteed of a spot in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand later this year, Mexico are very close to a 14th appearance at the World Cup.

There was a slight hiccup after defender Oscar Bernal lost his cool and saw red, sent off in the 70th minute, but even then Mexico were too good for Honduras, avenging a loss in the last meeting, in Honduras in 2005.

Alejandro Diaz from the penalty spot, the irrepressible Hirving Lozano in the 31st and Victor Guzman in the 89th minutes scored for two-time defending champions Mexico in their 14th straight win in CONCACAF Championships.

Meanwhile, Cuba and Haiti combined for an entertaining 2-2 draw in the third game of the triple header in a result that would have frustrated Haiti more.

Haiti came from a goal down to lead 2-1, but gave up a late goal and lost a chance at going joint third place.

Mexico lead Group B with maximum nine points followed by El Salvador on five points after their upset 3-2 win over Canada in the opening game, with Honduras in third place on four points. Canada are on three points, Haiti on two and Cuba on one.

Referee John Pitti was kept busy in the Mexico/Honduras game, handing out five yellow cards and one expulsion in a bruising, physical game that was played at frenetic pace.

Honduras came into the game with a chip on their shoulders and a swagger, but went down as early as 15 minutes when Diz powered home a penalty kick for his third goal of the week after defender Kevin Lopez tripped Jose David Ramirez in the 18-yard box.

Lozano made it 2-0 in the 31st minute with a stupendous solo effort; the little magician, who plays for Pachuca in the Mexican league, ran a full 70 yards from his own area after a Honduran corner kick was cleared, sprinted down the right wing, then cut inside, worked his way past three defenders before finishing with the most delectable of chips into the corner of the goal from the top of the 18-yard box.

Bernal was sent off after he lashed out at a Honduran striker as all 22 players converged on the scene and had to be separated.

Guzman made the points safe a minute before full time when he picked up a loose ball and cannoned it past goalkeeper Roberto Lopez.

Haiti needed a win over Cuba to stay in the race for a place in the play-offs and a hopeful long shot at a World Cup place.

Cuba got off to another fast start and could have gone ahead as early as the seventh minute, but Frank Lopez shot high from close range.

They, however, managed to get on the score sheet in the 28th minute after the Haitian goalkeeper was left stranded outside his 18-yard box and Roberney Caballero curled in a shot from about 25 yards into an empty net.

This was Cuba’s first goal since they equalised against Mexico three minutes into their first game, a span of 205 minutes.

Haiti threw caution to the wind as they did against El Salvador and made a double change two minutes into the second half and got rich rewards.

Fernander Demas unleashed a free kick in the 57th minute from about 25 yards that flew straight as an arrow into the goal before Cuban goalkeeper Delvis Lumpuy could even react.

With the Haiti goalkeeper making two good saves at the other end to keep the score level, Haiti went ahead in the 73rd minute when Woodensky Cherenfant was quickest to a loose ball to hit it into the goal.

Cuba would not go away, however, and stormed back in time added with Yendri Torres finishing off a swift counter attack, stretching the Haitian defence and leaving goalkeeper Ramon Pointe Jour exposed.