Mexico's Carlos Pena, center right, attempts a goal surrounded by Panama's Eybir Bonaga, left, Roman Torres, right, and Amilcar Henriquez during a 2014 World Cup qualifying match. Photo / AP.
The All Whites' path to the 2014 World Cup will almost certainly go through Mexico after an 86th-minute bicycle kick rescued El Tri today.
Mexico beat Panama 2-1 at Estadio Azteca to move into fourth spot in the Concacaf region with one round to play in the Hexagonal qualifying tournament.
The two teams came into the clash level in fourth on eight points, leaving New Zealand likely to face the winner for a place at next year's World Cup in Brazil.
Mexico took a first-half lead but Panama pegged them back with 10 minutes to play, before Raul Jimenez flicked up Javier Hernandez's cross on the edge of the box and knocked a stunning overhead kick into the bottom corner to claim the points.
With Honduras having earlier edged Costa Rica 1-0 to all but lock up the last automatic qualification spot - joining the United States and Costa Rica - a draw in Mexico City would have left Panama in the box seat for fourth.
