El Tri's 2-2 draw against Honduras in San Pedro Sula was a particularly bitter result. But for a brief three-minute period in the second half, the game had gone exactly to plan for El Tri, with a Javier Hernandez brace before the hour mark seeming to set Mexico up to coast to the victory and the vital three points.

What happened next was not scheduled. The heat seemed to take a visible toll on Mexico's players and goals in the 77th from Carlos Costly and in the 80th from Jerry Bengston now leave El Tri with just two points from its first two World Cup qualifiers in the Hexagonal. That isn't the tally most expected Mexico to have after two games, and it makes the U.S. game on Tuesday that much more important.