Soccer-Mexico start qualifiers with unconvincing win over Belize

HOUSTON, June 15 (Reuters) - Mexico began their World Cup qualifying campaign with an unconvincing 2-0 win over Belize on Sunday.

Belize's amateurs, facing their neighbours for the first time, held out for over an hour before Carlos Vela and a Jared Borgetti penalty saved Mexico.

"We faced a team who were well organised at the back," Borgetti, Mexico's record scorer, told Mexico's TV Azteca after notching his 44th international goal.

The match, a second preliminary round first leg tie, was played in Houston as Belize, technically the home side, do not have a stadium which meets FIFA requirements.

The return will be in Monterrey on Saturday.

Mexico, who will be coached by former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson after the second leg, forced only two saves from Belize goalkeeper Shane Orio in the first half.

Orio stopped an Andres Guardado effort in the 25th minute and another from Fernando Arce just before halftime.

Osasuna striker Vela opened the scoring in the 62nd minute from a rebound after Luis Perez's shot hit the post.

Borgetti added the second in the second minute of stoppage-time, sending Orio the wrong way from the penalty spot after a foul on Arce.

(Reporting by Carlos Calvo in Mexico City; Editing by Ed Osmond)