Columbus, Ohio, Nov 12 — Mexico ended a humiliating string of 2-0 losses to the United States in this Midwestern city, getting a 2-1 victory over its arch-rival at the start of the fifth and final round of World Cup qualifying in the Concacaf region.

Friday night’s match at Mapfre Stadium seemed destined to end in a 1-1 draw, but 37-year-old defender Rafael Marquez headed home the game-winner in the 89th minute.

Mexico dominated the contest in the early going and took the lead in the 20th minute when a shot from outside the area by defender Miguel Layun ricocheted off American defender Timmy Chandler and into the back of the net past goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Mexico could have scored earlier, but a powerful shot by Jesus Corona from outside the penalty box clanked off the left upright.

The visitors controlled possession with their 4-3-3 formation against a U.S. side that opted for an unorthodox 3-4-3 (which some analysts called a 3-5-2), creating constant danger down the left side.

In one of those forays, a cross found Carlos Vela for a header that hit off the crossbar.

The United States had two decent opportunities to score in the first half, but those chances had more to do with the indecisiveness of goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera and defender Diego Reyes than the play of the home side’s strikers.

An injury to midfielder Andres Guardado in the 28th minute proved detrimental to Mexico, which had less control of the ball due to U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s decision to switch his squad’s formation back to its traditional 4-4-2 and to more effective play by midfielder Michael Bradley.

The shift in momentum then was reflected on the scoreboard four minutes into the second half when striker Bobby Wood, the United States’ top player along with teenage hopeful Christian Pulisic, stunned an overly passive Mexican defense with a powerful blast past Mexican net minder Alfredo Talavera.

The ensuing 25 minutes were emotion-filled but lacking in quality of play or clear chances on goal, although that changed when Talavera made the save of the night to deny Wood in the 74th minute.

Mexico responded five minutes later with a drive into the box by Hirving Lozano, a threat that ended when Fabian Johnson took the ball away from Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in front of goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who had come on when Howard departed the game with an injury in the 40th minute.

It seemed Mexico might be content to settle for a 1-1 draw, which at least would have ended its string of “Dos a Cero” losses in World Cup qualifying matches in Columbus, Ohio, dating back to 2001.

But instead Marquez silenced the crowd with a header off a corner kick just before stoppage time.

“We started the game in a 3-4-3 with Christian Pulisic having all the freedom with two strikers up front,” Klinsmann was quoted as saying on the americansoccernow.com Web site.

“It went really well in training but the key to that formation is your central midfielders need to get into these 1v1 battles. That is something that was not happening,” he added.

The loss is a setback for the United States but not a devastating blow because it still has nine matches left in the six-team, home-and-away round-robin “Hex” tournament.

The three top finishers will qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, while the fourth place team will advance to an inter-confederation playoff.

Mexico’s next World Cup qualifying match will be against Panama on Tuesday, while the United States will visit Costa Rica that same day. EFE