The match was the 50th meeting since the two first played each other in 1930 with the Ticos still leading the all-time series having won 19, lost 15 a

Honduras rampant against Ticos

Honduras defeated Costa Rica 4-0 in decisive fashion on Wednesday to boost their 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifying aspirations in the North, Central America and Caribbean region.

Carlos Costly scored twice, in the 30th minute and again in second-half injury time, while Carlos Pavon (50th) and Melvin Valladares (89th) also scored as Honduras leapt to second place in the six-nation final qualifying group in the region.

Costa Rica remain atop the group with 12 points, followed by Honduras and USA both on ten. Mexico have nine points after a 2-1 victory over the Stars and Stripes.

The top three teams advance directly to South Africa 2010, while the fourth-placed team will play off against a team from South America for a berth.

Costly scores pair to lead Honduras over Costa Rica 4-0
8/12/2009 - SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras -- Two goals from Carlo Costly helped Honduras to a 4-0 victory over CONCACAF World Cup qualifying leader Costa Rica on Wednesday and bolstered its claim for a place next year in South Africa. The Catrachos dominated the visitors from the opening whistle led by Ramon Nunez and Costly, twice disallowed goals in the opening 18 minutes before finally taking the lead. Nunez and Costly appeared to combine for an opening oal in the sixth minute, but the striker was ruled offside. A second goal was disallowed in the 18th minute when a long distance effort by Mauricio Sabillon deflected off a Costa Rica defender and ended up in the back of the net, but goalkeeper Keilor Navas was fouled. Navas came out of the goal mouth scramble holding his face and was eventually replaced by Ricardo Gonzalez in the 25th minute. Honduras went ahead in the 30th minute when Costly scored his fourth goal of the qualifying phase after collecting a pass from Elvis Turcios at the top of the penalty area. It double the advantage six minutes into the second half when Carlos Pavon, with his back to goal, chested down a searching pass, turned and alluded Costa Rica defender Jose Fernandez before and then buried a shot past Gonzalez. Honduras continued their domination with a corner kick by Turcios hitting the cross bar in the in the 65th minute and a long distance effort by Julio Cesar Leon thumping off the crossbar in the 75th minute. Leon again tested Gonzalez in the 84th minute when his blistering free kick from 30 yards forced the keeper into another acrobatic save, pushing the dipping strike just wide of goal. Honduras added two goals in injury time, with second half substitute Melvin Valladares beating the offside trap, eluding a slide tackle from Fernandez and then slamming the ball past Gonzalez. Seconds later, Costly added his second of the night, collecting a pass at the top of the penalty area and side footing the ball past Gonzalez to complete the scoring. The visiting Ticos’ chances were few with their only solid effort of the first half – a long distance strike by Armando Alonso -- appearing to beat goalkeeper Noel Valladares but skipping wide of the post. Valladares then came up with a diving finger-tip effort to deny Cristian Bolanos, who collected a cross from Esteban Sirias in the 68th minute and struck a hard right-footed shot on goal. The victory moved Honduras into the second place in the “hexagonal” standings with 10 points, within two points of Costa Rica and just ahead of the United States on goal difference. Its next match is September 5 when it hosts Trinidad and Tobago while Costa Rica will be home against Mexico in San Jose. The match was the 50th meeting since the two first played each other in 1930 with the Ticos still leading the all-time series having won 19, lost 15 and drawing the 16 others.