[OLYMPIC QUALIFYING] The U.S. women’s national team beat host Mexico, 3-1, in front of a record crowd of 22,280, to come within a game of qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games. The victory in Ciudad Juarez came two days after the USA’s 6-0 win over Jamaica and puts the Americans in a semifinal against Costa Rica – the winner of which earns a ticket to China.

The attendance set a record for a women’s game in a Concacaf tournament.

Natasha Kai struck twice and Abby Wambach scored the other U.S. goal against the Mexicans, for whom Lupita Worbis equalized in the 31st minute.

“We saw Mexico play three days ago so we knew the formation, but they have a 12th player, and that’s the crowd. It was absolutely wonderful,” said U.S. coach Pia Sundhage. “This is my first time here in Mexico with the U.S. team and that kind of crowd, I appreciate it a lot.

“We knew there would be battles, a lot of one-v-one, and a technical Mexico team. So we needed to stay focused in defending and find the space outside their backs. We did a pretty good job at the end of the day.”

Sundhage made four changes to the lineup that defeated Jamaica, 6-0, last Friday, inserting Hope Solo in goal, Rachel Buehler at right back, Tobin Heath at left midfield and Kai up top with Wambach.

In the 13th minute Kai scored her 11th career goal. Midfielder Carli Lloyd did well to win a challenge in midfield and struck a long ball to Heather O’Reilly on the right wing. The U.S. midfielder brought the ball down and set off on a long run toward goal before slipping a pass to Kai into the right side of the penalty box. Kai had time to pick her spot and rolled the ball into the left corner past Mexican goalkeeper Sophia Perez.

Worbis scored after controlling a U.S. clearance before hitting the 30-yard rocket.

Almost right off the kickoff, defender Kate Markgraf sent a long ball to Wambach down the left side. The U.S. forward pushed past two defenders into the penalty area, then eluded Perez to the outside before rolling the ball into the open net. It was the 92nd goal Wambach’s career and her third of the tournament.

Kai nutmegged the Mexican keeper for the USA’s third goal.

The USA faces Costa Rica on Wednesday