Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Mexico advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 conquest over Guatemala on Saturday night at the Meadowlands Stadium.

Guatemala stunned Mexico with a goal just five minutes into the game and maintained its lead at the half, but Mexico scored twice in the second half, Javier Hernandez the victory for his team by scoring in the 66th minute in the front of 78,807 visitors.

“They know they should win versus any adversity,” Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre said. “We knew it was a difficult match and a difficult opponent. The early goal was because the field was a little complicated and heavy but we knew that we would come back, and we did.”

Guatemala got 1-0 lead when Carlos Ruiz grabbed his first goal with an assist of Elias Vasquez, who drove a long ball down the center of the field from Guatemala’s side, Ruiz and Mexico defender Hector Moreno battled for position at the top of the box as the ball came down.

In the 34th minute Guatemala had a good chance to double the lead but they failed to avail the opportunity. After 47 scoreless minutes, De Nigris grabbed a goal for Mexico to equalize the game with an assist of E. Juárez.

Hernandez scored his tournament’s sixth goal in the 66th minute to give Mexico 2-1 lead that could not be changed till the end of game. Hernandez became the leading scorer in the tournament; he scored a hat-trick in Mexico’s opening game against El Salvador and two more in their second pool game against Cuba.

The Mexicans will now travel to Houston to take on Honduras, which defeated Costa Rica earlier in the day in a match that was decided 4-2 on penalty kicks.

Five missing Mexican players, who were suspended because they could not pass the doping test earlier in the tournament, will now play Honduras in the semifinals in Houston on Wednesday.

The remaining two quarterfinals will take place on Sunday in Washington DC, in which the United States will face Jamaica and Panama will face El Salvador.