The victory put the Ticos atop the six-team final round after four games

The victory put the Ticos atop the six-team final round

FIFA World Cup
Costa Rica beats USA 3-1, jumps atop CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings


6/3/2009 - SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Alvaro Saborio scored 82 seconds after the opening kickoff and Celso Borges added another in the 13th minute to spark Costa Rica to a 3-1 victory over the United States Wednesday night and the lead in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

The victory put the Ticos atop the six-team final round after four games with nine points, two better than the United States. It also kept Costa Rica unbeaten at home against the USA in their nine games in Central America.

The match was the only World Cup qualifier played Wednesday due to a schedule change to accommodate the United States’ participation in the Confederations Cup later this month.

Saborio scored from just outside the penalty area, taking a ball from the right side, eluding USA midfielder Jose Torres, touching the ball inside Pablo Mastroeni and unleashing a curling, dipping left footer that swerved just out of the reach of goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Costa Rica doubled its lead 11 minutes later. Bryan Ruiz broke free on the left side and fed Esteban Sirias, who sent a simple cross through the top of the penalty area where Borges struck a right-footed volley into a virtually open net.

The United States struggled to create quality chances, not attempting a shot until Landon Donovan turned 25 yards away to send a ball over the bar in the 16th minute.

The United States had a bit more possession in the second half but Costa Rica consolidated its victory in the 69th minute when second-half substitute Pablo Herrera dribbled around U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley and struck a left-footed ball to beat Howard with a low shot to the near post.

Donovan finally scored for the United States in the third minute of injury time, converting a penalty kick for the Americans' first goal in Costa Rica since 2000. Trinidad referee awarded the penalty after defender Oguchi Onyewu was fouled on a long throw-in.

Costa Rica has scored 32 goals and allowed only five at Estadio Saprissa in its last 11 games and hadn’t allowed a goal at home in its previous seven World Cup qualifiers.

Both teams play again on Saturday with Costa Rica travelling to Trinidad and the United States returning home to face El Salvador in Chicago. The United States will be without Bradley, who drew a yellow card for a foul on Walter Centeno and will be suspended for accumulated cautions.
U.S.-Costa Rica tilt highlights play as final round of World Cup qualifying hits midpoint


6/1/2009 - By Michael Lewis

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- CONCACAF reaches its midway point in World Cup qualifying this week ? appropriately with the two standings leaders in the ?hexagonal? tussling for the top spot.

Second-place Costa Rica hosts the United States on Wednesday with first place the prize. The Ticos , who have won two of three and lost the other, can take over the top spot with a win as they try to qualify for their fourth World Cup since 1990. A second game for both follows Saturday with the United States hosting Honduras and Costa Rica travelling to Trinidad, and both teams will have played five out of 10 qualifying games.

"It will be very difficult," Costa Rican forward Alvaro Saborio told La Nacion.

If the Americans, who have won two of three and drawn (2-0-1, seven) can overcome history and win -- they have never won at their Central American hosts -- they could solidify their quest to reach the World Cup for an unprecedented sixth consecutive time.

"We certainly view these two games as very, very important," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "We had a good start. Quite obviously, Costa Rica and Honduras are tough opponents. We understand the challenges in these games. We feel very strongly we have a great opportunity to really finish the first half of this round and put ourselves in a good position in the final five matches."

Going undefeated would put the U.S. on the verge of clinching a spot in South Africa, according to midfielder Landon Donovan.

"Our mindset is that if we can get four of six points out of the next two games, we are very close to qualifying," he said. "And that's our goal."

The U.S. matches were moved up to accommodate the team's participation at the FIFA Confederations Cup, which kicks off in South Africa on June 14.

The Ticos are unbeaten at home against the U.S. in qualifying, winning six and and drawing the other, but they are giving the Americans the utmost respect.

"They are the best team in the zone and the qualifying leader," Saborio was quoted in La Nacion. "It is necessary to know how to play them very well. Their players have much experience in Europe and MLS."

Defender Gonzalo Segares, who plays in the U.S. with the Chicago Fire (MLS), did not sound overconfident in a recent interview.

The U.S. would be more than satisfied with a draw at Saprissa Stadium, but Donovan felt the Americans can come home with three points. The Americans' only qualifying point here came in a 1-1 draw in Alajuela in 1985.

"We feel like a more talented team and we feel like we're a better team," he said. "If we want to become a team that can compete on a real level at the World Cup, these are the games we need to win. We have a good opportunity."