Borges scores twice to give Costa Rica 3-2 victory over Trinidad, move Ticos closer to World Cup
BACOLET, Tobago – Celso Borges scored two second-half goals and lifted Costa Rica to a 3-2 victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday, giving the Ticos command of the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
Borges, who scored in the 13th minute Wednesday night in San Jose in a 3-1 victory over the United States, scored in the 52nd and 69th minutes, to give Costa Rica 12 points atop the standings as the final round of qualifying reached its midpoint.
Three of the six teams will qualify automatically for the 32-team field in South Africa with the fourth-place finisher entering a playoff with the fifth-place finisher from South America for the last berth.
Borges’ first goal gave Costa Rica a 2-1 lead before second-half substitute Collin Samuel equalized in the 63rd. Borges then restored the advantage, finishing unmarked from the middle of the penalty after Pablo Herrera drove a cross from the right side through the box.
Trinidad, playing its first game under player-coach Russell Latapy who replaced Francisco Maturana in April, remained with two points after four games and precariously in last place.
Trinidad started quickly, dominating the first 15 minutes before a home crowd in Dwight Yorke Stadium and taking the lead in the 30th minute when Gonzalo Segares gave away a free kick 35 yards from goals and Carlos Edwards drove a right-footed ball past an apparently misplaced wall. The shot was well left of the wall, skipped twice and entered just inside the left post past slowly reacting Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas.
Costa Rica reacted by testing Clayton Ince two minutes later, forcing the Trinidad keeper to tip Alvaro Saborio’s header over the bar.
But Saborio converted in the 41st, appearing to mis-hit a cross by Esteban Sirias by missing with his right leg but deflecting it inadvertently with his right thigh, dribbling it between Ince and the far post.
Borges capitalized on a Trinidad mistake to put Costa Rica ahead in the 52nd, reacting to Dennis Lawrence’s attempted headed clearance. Lawrence cleared the ball up the middle, where Borges ran on and drove a ball from inside the area.
Samuel, who replaced Hayden Tinto to start the second half, restored the life to the crowd in the 63rd. Kenwyne Jones had the ball at the top of the area before Segares forced the ball wide, where Samuel ran on and drove a ball that Navas was able to partially block, but not stop from bouncing into the goal.
Costa Rica next will enter the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July before returning to World Cup qualifying in August. Trinidad must travel to Mexico on Wednesday to face an opponent it has only beaten three times in 15 matches.
sábado, 6 de junio de 2009
The Americans played more aggressively before a near capacity home crowd
FIFA World Cup
USA rallies to beat Honduras 2-1, extends home streak against CONCACAF opponents
Carlos Bocanegra scored his 11th international goal to complete a USA rally
Photo by Tony Quinn and the U.S. Soccer Federation6/6/2009 - CHICAGO – Carlos Bocanegra scored his 11th international goal in the 68th minute to give the United States a 2-1 victory over El Salvador on Saturday, recovering from its loss three days earlier in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
After being beaten 3-1 by Costa Rica in San Jose on Wednesday, the Americans played more aggressively before a near capacity home crowd of 55,647 in Chicago’s Soldier Field and kept pace with the Ticos in the final round standings after five games. The United States improved to 10 points and remained in second place, two behind Costa Rica.
Honduras remained with four points after four games.
Bocanegra scored from Landon Donovan’s corner kick, lunging headfirst inside the six-yard box to nod a headed ball from Clint Dempsey at the backpost.
Three countries will qualify automatically for the 32-team World Cup next year in South Africa, while the fourth-place team will enter a playoff with the fifth-place team from South America for the final berth.
Bocanegra’s goal completed the United States’ rally from an early deficit once again. After falling behind 2-0 in the first 13 minutes against Costa Rica, the USA fell behind in the fifth minute on a goal by Carlos Costly.
Carlos Pavon dispossessed Dempsey in midfield and quickly closed on goal. Approaching the penalty area, Pavon lost his balance, but not before slipping the ball left to Costly, who drove a shot from 25 yards just inside the left post.
Neither side created many quality chances in the first half, but the United States had slightly better possession and it paid dividends in the 43rd when Mario Beata was called for a handball on a long pass out of the back that bounced.
Donovan converted for his 11th goal in World Cup qualifying, passing Brian McBride for the all-time lead.
With the insertion of 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup hero Benny Feilhaber to start the second half, the Americans dominated possession and looked dangerous repeatedly, culminating with Bocanegra’s goal.
The Americans next head to South Africa to play in the Confederations Cup, while Honduras will return home to face El Salvador on Wednesday in another World Cup qualifier.
The victory extended the United States’ home unbeaten streak against CONCACAF opponents to 53 games, including 43 wins. The last time it lost at home within the region was against Honduras, 3-2 in Washington in September 2001.
June 6th
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