<!--Article Start--> <h3 style="text-align: justify"> . <strong>Mexico stunned the United States 3-2 to qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup here on Saturday as a spectacular extra-time winner from Paul Aguilar settled a five-goal thriller at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. </strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Aguilar lashed in a superb volley in the 118th minute to spark euphoric scenes at the iconic venue in front of 93,723 fans.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Aguilar's goal sends Mexico to Russia as CONCACAF's representatives in 2017 and piles pressure on US coach Jurgen Klinsmann who has faced criticism for a string of poor recent results.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But the victory capped a remarkable temporary stint as Mexico manager Ricardo Ferretti, who took the job on a temporary, unpaid basis following the sacking Miguel Herrera in July.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I feel very happy for the boys and what we did together," said the Brazilian-born Ferretti, a naturalised Mexican citizen.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I think in the end we did just a little bit more than them and deserved to win."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">A downcast Klinsmann meanwhile said he would soldier on despite this latest setback, which followed elimination in the Gold Cup semi-finals in July and a heavy defeat to Brazil last month.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Defeat is always difficult to swallow," Klinsmann said.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"The guys showed a lot of character, tremendous effort, they gave everything they had," he added. "I told the guys 'Heads up, because you gave everything you had.'"</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Klinsmann's men looked to have done enough to take the game to penalties, twice coming from behind to level the score on a night of high drama that saw three goals in extra-time after the match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Oribe Peralta looked to have settled the game with a 96th-minute strike that put Mexico 2-1 up on the night, ramming home Aguilar's low cross.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But the United States snatched an equaliser out of nowhere in the 108th minute when Bobby Wood sprinted onto DeAndre Yedlin's through ball to slip a cool finish beneath Moises Munoz to make it 2-2.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The extra-time drama followed a fractious 90 minutes where Mexico were unable to convert their territorial and technical superiority into goals.</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>Javier Hernandez opened the scoring in the 10th minute</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier Hernandez fired Mexico into the lead after only 10 minutes as the visitors carved open the American defence with a superb piece of passing football.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">A sublime backheeled flick from Benfica's Raul Jimenez released Peralta into space down the right flank and the Club America forward's low cross was met by Hernandez with a nice finish.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But Klinsmann's men responded strongly to the early setback, swiftly marching back up the field to level within five minutes.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Skipper Michael Bradley was the architect, his pinpoint inswinging freekick from wide on the left picking out unmarked Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron who thumped his header past Munoz.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The early goals lit the touchpaper for a feisty opening spell, with Aguilar earning a booking for a brutal challenge on Jermaine Jones that saw Klinsmann leap off the bench in anger in the 21st minute.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Tempers boiled over in the 34th minute when Peralta flew in as Brad Guzan gathered a loose ball, triggering a prolonged melee in the US goalmouth.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Peralta was shown yellow for his role in the altercation. The US created the better of the chances thereafter, Jozy Altidore scooping a shot over the bar from close range on 40 minutes before Bradley forced a scrambled Munoz save from a freekick shortly before half-time.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Yet the momentum built by the US evaporated in the second half, with Mexico's superior technicians spending long periods camped in American territory, readily taking advantage of a US tendency to surrender possession cheaply.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Mexico struggled to break down a packed US defence for the remainder of the 90 minutes however setting up 30 minutes of extra-time.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p> <!--Article End-->