OAKLAND, California (AP): Luis Miguel Noriega converted a penalty on his full international debut as Mexico defeated Nicaragua 2-0 on Sunday in the first round of Gold Cup play in Group C.

Pablo Barrera, a second-half substitute, scored from the edge of the box for El Tri in the 86th minute to double the margin.

The young and inexperienced Mexican team will use this tournament _ a 12-team regional championship of North American, Central American and Caribbean countries _ to try to find consistency leading up to a key World Cup qualifier Aug. 12 against the United States in Mexico City.

Mexico sits in fourth place in the qualifying standings for next year's World Cup after narrowly edging Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 in its most recent qualifier June 10.

Mexico controlled the game and largely kept the ball in its offensive half of the field. Speedy Giovani Dos Santos put pressure on Nicaragua all game. He dribbled through traffic and took a left-foot shot in the first minute that went wide right.

Mexico lost in the 2007 Gold Cup championship to the United States and each country owns four Gold Cup titles.

El Tri has a 22-0-1 record against the Americans in their homeland, but are currently 2-3 in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The region's top three teams earn automatic spots for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Mexico's next Gold Cup match is Thursday in Houston against Panama, which lost 2-1 to Guadeloupe earlier Sunday.