"They fought like warriors to the last minute and they deserve the credit also."
Herrera chose not to select players based in Europe or elsewhere for his playoff against New Zealand, naming a starting lineup of locally-based players which included seven players from his own club. His team justified that policy and Herrera, having ended a period of instability in Mexico soccer, now hopes to be rewarded with a longer-term contract.
Peralta had a hat trick before halftime as Mexico cut to pieces New Zealand's defense which, after being too deep in Mexico, pushed too far forward Wednesday and was consistently exposed.
Mexico opened up New Zealand on the flanks and, when it centered possession, found Peralta unopposed.
Peralta scored in the 14th minute after taking a pass from Juan-Carlos Medina and chipping over oncoming goalkeeper Glen Moss. He scored again in the 28th minute when New Zealand was exposed on the left flank and for a third time in the 33rd minute.
New Zealand pulled a goal back when Chris James scored from the penalty spot in the 79th minute.
Striker Rory Fallon, whose goal against Bahrain on the same ground almost exactly a year ago sent New Zealand to the 2010 World Cup, scored four minutes later when he side-footed a close-range shot wide of Munoz.
Carlos Pena then sealed the win for Mexico with a goal five minutes from fulltime.
"We're just a bit disappointed we couldn't get that equalizer," New Zealand captain Tommy Smith said. "Obviously we strung a few more passes together tonight and hopefully that bodes well for the future."
New Zealand had one scoring chance in the first half from a penalty in the 38th minute when striker Jeremy Brockie hurled himself to the ground at the feet of Munoz. The goalkeeper calmly picked himself up and saved Brockie's shot, leaving the New Zealand striker without a goal in 41 international appearances.