Luis Garrido (R) fights for the ball with Mexico's Giovanni Dos Santos (L) during a match for the Central American qualifying round for the Brazil 2014 World Championships, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, 22 March 2013. EPA/GUSTAVO AMADOR

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras: Second-half strikes from Carlo Costly and Jerry Bengtson saw Honduras erase a two-goal deficit for a stunning 2-2 draw with Mexico in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Costly’s header in the 77th minute and Bengtson’s 80th-minute blast – off the rebound from his own saved penalty attempt – cancelled out a pair of goals from Javier Hernandez in the 28th and 54th minute.

The draw left Honduras atop the six-nation final qualifying group in North and Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF).

Regional powerhouse Mexico, meanwhile, remain in search of a first win after two matches.

Honduras had opened their final-round campaign with a 2-1 victory over the United States last month.

The USA were trying to bounce back from that defeat on Friday when they hosted Costa Rica in Denver in a match coach Jurgen Klinsmann called a “must-win”.

In Friday’s other match, Jamaica hosted Panama.

The top three teams advance to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, while the fourth place team plays off against top Oceania team New Zealand for a berth.

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