Gio Dos Santos Revives Mexico

In the wake of Mexico's 3-0 demolition of Costa Rica on the fast turf of Saprissa late Saturday night, fans of El Tri ought to be grateful coach Javier Aguirre doesn't have the same policy for playing young players as his U.S. counterpart Bob Bradley.

After spending most of the summer worrying whether or not if Mexico would get out of CONCACAF World Cup 2010 qualification, El Tri are squarely back in the mix for one of the region's three automatic spots thanks to 20-year-old rising star Gio Dos Santos.

American fans surely saw enough of the former Barcelona starlet Dos Santos running rampant in Mexico's 5-0 win over the U.S. in July's Gold Cup final, and then in last month's 2-0 Mexico win at Azteca in qualifying.

Saturday night in the central American cauldron that is Saprissa, Dos Santos almost single-handedly gave Mexico three crucial points on the road.

In first half stoppage time, Dos Santos conjured a true golazo out of nothing, ripping off a low rocket from the outside left edge of the penalty area, pin-pointing it in the bottom right corner. Cristiano Ronaldo himself couldn't have placed it any better.

Later in the second half, Dos Santos laid off centering passes to set up easy tap-in goals for Guille Franco and Andres Guardado to complete the 3-0 destruction of the Ticos.

The win threw CONCACAF qualifying into mild chaos with three games remaining. Honduras leads the group with 13 points, ahead of the U.S. on goal difference. Mexico and Costa are just behind with 12 points. With three automatic spots and the fourth place team gaining a playoff with the fifth place South American team, it figures to be a soccer version of musical chairs.

But that's getting ahead of things before Wednesday's matches.

Today it's about realizing Mexico's lifeline through the feet of Dos Santos.

What makes Dos Santos' current run of form for Mexico all the more impressive is his unsettled club situation. During last summer transfer window he was a surprise purchase by Tottenham from Barcelona. With all of Spurs turmoil, he was eventually briefly loaned out to Ipswich Town before returning back to North London for the start of the 2009-10 season, where he is only appearance is a League Cup match.

Unlike Bradley in similar situations, Aguirre was undaunted by Dos Santos' lack of first team playing time. Aguirre kept his faith in Dos Santos and hitched his coaching wagon to the youngster's rising star, which has moved Mexico from possible roadkill to right back on track for South Africa next summer.