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Mexico, Saudis in Confederations Cup semis

Mexico squeaked past Bolivia and Saudi Arabia crushed Egypt on Thursday, to enter the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup Football tournament.

With Thursday's results, Mexico won Group A in the eight-nation FIFA tournament, and gained the right to remain in Mexico City and face the winner of Friday's showdown between Germany and the United States on Sunday.

"They're both very strong," Mexico coach Manuel Lapuente said, when asked which team he preferred to play. "I don't like to choose rivals."

The Saudis have the unenviable task of traveling to Guadalajara for Sunday's other semi-final to face Brazil, who clinched Group B on Wednesday.

The remaining squads -- New Zealand, Egypt and Bolivia -- have been eliminated.

A second-half goal from beleaguered midfielder Francisco Palencia was all Mexico could muster in their 1-0 win over Bolivia in front of a demanding crowd of 50,000 in Mexico City's Azteca stadium.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia, fueled by a four-goal outburst from striker Marzouk Al Otaibi, thrashed Egypt 5-1 in a match that saw three Egyptians sent off by Paraguayan referee Ubaldo Aquino.

After being booed off the pitch on Tuesday, following a 2-2 draw with Egypt, the Mexicans appeared to suffer from jitters in a first half, marred by misdirected passes and few clear scoring chances.

Palencia, the object of much of the crowd's scorn, gained some vindication by heading into an open net after Bolivian goalkeeper Jose Carlo Fernandez misplayed a corner kick at the 52nd minute.

"There was a bit of pressure," Palencia said after the game. "But we managed it well and were able to gather strength as the match progressed."

Egypt, meanwhile, had its dreams of qualifying for Sunday's semi-final crushed by a surprising Saudi side, which was humbled in a 5-1 loss to Mexico on Sunday.

Al Otaibi began the Saudi onslaught at the eight minute, lunging to boot home a rebound of his own shot off the post.

But a nine-minute first-half nightmare for the Egyptians' quickly put the game out of hand.

Aquino sent off Egypt's Abdelsatar Sabry at the 28th minute for leveling a Saudi defender with an elbow.

Al Otaibi struck again at the 34th minute with a first-timed left-footed shot off a low cross from Nawaf Al Temyat.

Then in the 37th minute Egypt's Hazem Emam was ejected after collecting his second yellow card from Aquino.

After the break, the Saudis poured it on. Ibrahim Al Shahrani tapped in at the 64th minute after Egyptian keeper Essam El Hadary failed to clear a Fahad Al Subaie shot.

Al Otaibi collected his third goal in the 78th minute, shedding two defenders and easily beating El Hadary. He struck again in the 85th minute with a low, left-footed shot.

Samir Ibrahim scored a consolation goal for Egypt in the 70th minute from the penalty spot. But he was sent off 10 minutes later for a rough tackle on Al Shahrani.

UNI