Vela struck in the 17th minute while Medina scored in the 84th minute before Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci grabbed a consolation a minute from time.

Just as England had been outplayed by the Mexicans for long periods at Wembley last week, Italy were given the runaround by Javier Aguirre's team at the King Baudouin Stadium. Whereas the English managed to scratch out a 3-1 win however, the Italians were stifled by an improved Mexican backline.

Mexico, who will play the opening game of the 2010 World Cup against hosts South Africa on June 11 in Johannesburg, started with Tottenham's Giovani Dos Santos in attack alongside Manchester United-bound Javier Hernandez, despite reports that Dos Santos had threatened to quit the squad in protest at the exclusion of his brother Jonathan from Aguirre's final 23-man roster.

It was Giovani who carved open the Italians for the opening goal, picking up the ball on halfway and darting down the right before checking inside and floating a left-footed cross into the box for unmarked Arsenal player Vela to drive home past Gianluigi Buffon.

Mexico dominated throughout with Italy searching for just their second goal in the four games they have played since qualifying for this month's finals in South Africa last October.

Medina, though, doubled the Mexican score when he ran onto a chip over the top of the Italian defence from fellow substitute Cuauhtemoc Blanco and fired home right-footed to beat Buffon at his near post.

The Italian goal came at last in the 89th minute as substitute Salvatore Bocchetti hit a post within seconds of replacing Fabio Cannavaro with a left-foot volley. The ball ricocheted off team-mate Giampaolo Pazzini and reached Bonucci at the near post, who fired into the net.

Italy have a final tune-up in Geneva on Saturday against Switzerland before flying to South Africa, where they will open their defence against Paraguay in Cape Town on June 14.