The U.S. under-23 national team beat Mexico's U-23s, 3-1, Wednesday night before 9,000 fans at the Estadio Galerias in the Guadalajara suburb of Zapopan to confirm its status as the team to beat in Olympic qualifying in the CONCACAF region.

The Americans got goals from Kelly Gray, Alecko Eskandarian and David Testo to beat the hosts, coached by Mexican national team boss Ricardo Lavolpe.

The U.S. broke a 1-1 tie in the second half after Alex Yi was sent off for two yellow cards and 2002 World Cup stars Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Beasley had left the game.

Donovan found Gray open at the far post to convert his corner kick with a header in the 11th minute. Justin Mapp set up Eskandarian for the go-ahead goal. David Testo of the A-League's Richmond Kickers scored the insurance goal in stoppage time, finding the net from 70 yards out with Mexico goalie Jose de Jesus Corona caught upfield.

Oguchi Onyewu, whose knee injury suffered with French club Metz is not as serious as first indicated, was a tower of strength in the middle of the U.S. defense.

''On a night when we showed great determination, character and resiliency in finishing with a man down, we also managed a terrific result,'' said U.S. U-23 coach Glenn Myernick. ''What's encouraging is that we can play much better. We absolutely deserved the 2-1 win. The third goal was just icing on the cake.''

The United States begins Olympic qualifying in November, entering the CONCACAF tournament in the second round against the winner of the St. Kitts & Nevis-Dominica first-round series. Mexico will host the final round of Olympic qualifying and is exempt from the knockout phase.

The final round — two quarterfinal groups, semifinals and final — will take place in Mexico from Feb. 2-12, 2004. The two CONCACAF finalists earn automatic berths to Athens 2004.

The United States has qualified or played in the last six Olympics, dating back to the 1980 Olympics, where team of young NASL players qualified for the Moscow Games shortly before a U.S.-led boycott was announced.

MEXICO-USA UNDER-23 SUMMARY:

May 14 in Zapopan

Mexico 1 USA 3. Goals: Garcia 38; Gray 11, Eskandarian 75, Testo 90.

Mexico — Corona, Rodriguez (Gomez, 65), Sanchez, Castro (De la Mora, 81), Rergis, Gonzalez, Ramirez (Olmedo, 46), De la Cruz, Garcia (Iniguez, 62), Bautista, Medina (Esquivel, 70).

USA — Countess, Lewis (Wingert, 46), Onyewu, Yi, Gray (Carroll, 55), Clark, Beasley (Mapp, 70), Pause, Donovan (Beckerman, 62), Eskandarian, Jaqua (Testo, 90).

Yellow cards: Mexico — Castro 61; USA — Yi 14, Onyewu 16, Yi 67.

Red card: USA — Yi 67.

Referee: German Arredondo (Mexico).

Att.: 9,000.