Captain Gerardo Torrado scored a penalty in the 56th minute, then the inexperienced US squad came unglued.

As an overwhelmingly pro-Mexico sell-out crowd of 79,156 rocked Giants Stadium, Giovani Dos Santos and Carlos Vela scored five minutes apart despite several brilliant saves by Troy Perkins. Indeed, it seemed the goalkeeper was the only American on the field during the 11-minute blitz, in which Mexico's attackers could have sprinted all the way back to Azteca Stadium without being touched.

The fiesta was on.

Jose Antonio Castro and Guillermo Franco put the finishing touches on Mexico's first win in the United States since March 1989.

Castro scored off a great through-pass from Vela, a substitute who lifted Mexico when he entered the game after half-time.

The United States, fielding an inexperienced squad after the top team finished second in the Confederations Cup last month, could not maintain American dominance of its continental rival. Not even close.

Mexico was winless in 11 matches with two draws in the US since its last victory, and fell 0-2 in February in a World Cup qualifier.

The nations meet again in Mexico City on August 12.

For the Americans, it was a return to reality. After Bob Bradley coached them to a runner-up finish in the Con-federations Cup in South Africa, he gave most of the players a pass for the Gold Cup. Still, the untested fill-ins showed versati-lity and fortitude, at least until Mexico ran over them in a spectacular 45-minute offensive onslaught.