Mexico took a huge step toward earning the final berth in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup by defeating Argentina, 3-1 on Dec. 11 in Toluca, Mexico, in the first leg of the two-game playoff series. Mexico and Argentina earned the right to play for the final Women’s World Cup berth by finishing second in the CONCACAF and South American qualifying tournaments respectively. The two teams meet again in Buenos Aires on Dec. 19. The winner of the playoff series will be determined on total goals. The match was the first for new Mexico Head Coach Leonardo Cuellar, the former Mexican national team star and current head men’s coach at Cal State Los Angeles. Cuellar is one game away from leading Mexico to its first-ever Women’s World Cup berth. Mexico is making its Women’s World Cup run with a roster bolstered by several Mexican-American players who honed their games in the U.S. and played key roles in today’s victory. Monica Gerardo, the all-time leading scorer in Notre Dame history, tallied Mexico’s first goal in the 23rd minute. Star forward Maribel Dominguez got the second score in the 31st minute as Mexico took a 2-1 lead into halftime. Substitute Iris Mora scored the clinching goal in the 66th minute to give the Tricolores a leg up heading into the second match in Argentina. Including Gerardo, Mexico’s starting lineup featured six Mexican-American players. The Mexican captain in this historic match was former UC Berkeley star Andrea Rodebaugh. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo star forward Gina Oceguera, USC defender Susie Mora, San Diego State goalkeeper Linnea Quinones and three-time NCAA All-American Laurie Hill from UC Santa Barbara also contributed to the victory. Santa Clara University captain Lisa Nanez, who left straight for Mexico from the NCAA Final Four where her Broncos lost in the semifinals, was on the bench but did not see action. Mexico or Argentina will join the 15 nations that have already qualified for the tournament taking place next summer from June 19 to July 10 in seven communities across the United States. They are: USA, Oceania champion Australia, South American champion Brazil, CONCACAF champion Canada, Asian qualifiers China, Japan and North Korea, European qualifiers Sweden, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Germany and Russia, and African qualifiers Nigeria and Ghana.