Ticos end slide, beat Trinidad 4-0
October 11, 2009
Alvaro Soborio scored a pair of goals and helped on another as Costa Rica ended a three-game losing streak to revive its World Cup hopes, beating Trinidad & Tobago 4-0 Saturday night in Rene Simoes’ first game as manager.
Costa Rica, which hadn’t scored its three losses, climbed into third place in the standings for the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with 15 points, four behind the leading United States but two ahead of Honduras in the fight for the last guaranteed trip to South Africa.
Three sides are assured of berths in the 32-team World Cup field while the fourth-placed team will have to play a two-leg playoff with the fifth-placed team from South America for the last place in South Africa.
Costa Rica will play its final game against the already qualified United States in Washington on Wednesday while Honduras will have to travel to play already eliminated El Salvador.
Costa Rica dominated the first half but took the lead on an own-goal by Radanfah Abubark.
The 28th minute score came from after a seemingly innocent cross by Costa Rica midfielder Michael Barrante had deflected off the foot Trinidad defender Julius James before striking Abubakr in the shoulder and past goalkeeper Marvin Phillip.
Costa Rica appeared to have taken the lead just seconds earlier when a strong long distance blast from Barrante had Phillip beaten but smashed off the Trinidad and Tobago post.
Phillip made two saves in the first 25th minutes, thwarting a blast from defender Christian Montero and another try in the 25th minute by defender Esteban Sirias.
Phillip kept the game close late in the half, turning away close shots by Costa Rica midfielder Brian Ruiz in the 36th and 41st minutes.
Phillip could not deny Walter Centeno, who notched his 23rd career goal for the Ticos in the 50th when he got behind a Saborio cross to make the score 2-0.
Sabario got things started when he raced down the left wing, turned Abubakr at the goal line and sent a pass across the face of goal to an onrushing and unmarked Centeno.
Sabario then scored his first in the 61st minute when he raced on to a through ball after a clever back-heel from midfielder Rolando Fonseca before outpacing Abubakr and calmly slotting the ball past Phillip.
Sabario added his second of the game and 16th of his career for the Ticos two minutes later, outjumping Phillip and striker Kenwyne Jones to head a corner kick past Phillip.
Trinidad finished the game with 10 men after James was ejected in the 65th after colliding with Centeno and appearing to make contact with his elbow.
Costa Rica could have made the score 5-0 in the 82nd minute but Montero couldn’t convert his penalty kick after Phillip made a sensational save and then made a second stop when Dennis Lawrence nearly knocked the spot kick rebound into his own goal.
Saturday’s match kicked off in a driving rain which made the aging playing surface at Saprissa Stadium slippery leading to several strange bounces off the artificial surface and several players on both teams struggling to keep their footing.
While Trinidad already had been eliminated from advancing to the 2010 tournament before Saturday’s game they close out their campaign against Mexico on Wednesday in Port-of-Spain.
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica
Related posts
United States beats Honduras, qualifies for sixth consecutive World Cup
October 11, 2009
Conor Casey scored a pair of second-half goals and Landon Donovan added another, sending the United States to a sixth consecutive World Cup with a 3-2 victory over Honduras Saturday night.
Casey scored in the 55th and 66th and Donovan added a free kick in the 71st to send the United States to South Africa along with Mexico, which clinched earlier in the day. Carlos Pavon missed an equalizing penalty in the 86th to doom Honduras.
Julio de Leon had a pair of goals for Honduras, which fell to the bottom of the standings in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with one match remaining.
The result kept the United States atop the standings with 19 points, one ahead of Mexico, four in front of Costa Rica and six ahead of Honduras. Three sides are guaranteed berths in the 32-team World Cup field with the fourth-placed side entering a two-leg playoff with the fifth-placed team from South America for the final berth in South Africa.
Honduras , in fourth place with 13 points, travels to faces already eliminated El Salvador on Wednesday in their final match needing a victory to have any chance of earning one of the three guaranteed berths. The United States will face Costa Rica in Washington on Wednesday.
Honduras had more chances in the first half but U.S. forward Charlie Davies had the best opportunity in the 32nd when, unmarked, he headed Stuart Holden’s cross that Noel Vallardares blocked with an outstretched right arm. The rebound came back to Davies, who sent it well over the bar.
Honduras took the lead in the 47th after U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu fouled Carlos Pavon just outside the area. De Leon’s right-footed blast curled into the upper left corner past goalkeeper Tim Howard.
The United States responded when Casey outleapt Noel Valladares and looped a headed ball over the Salvadoran goalkeeper in the 55th. He took one touch after a feed from Donovan and placed a right-footed shot around Valladares for a 2-1 lead.
Donovan then matched De Leon, blasting a 24-meter free kick past Valladares and the United States looked secure. But De Leon added his second in the 78th to create some anxious moments, especially when a bounding ball hit Stuart Holden’s right arm.
Pavon, however, sent the shot well over the bar.
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras
Related posts
Barca undecided over Robinho
October 11, 2009
Barcelona are refusing to rule out a big-money bid for Manchester City forward Robinho when the transfer window opens in January.
The Brazil superstar has been consistently linked with a La Liga return ever since his surprise £32.5million switch from Real Madrid in September 2008.
Robinho is currently on the sidelines after injuring his ankle on international duty and he could find it difficult to make a return to Mark Hughes’ starting XI.
Craig Bellamy has been in blistering form in his absence along with Carlos Tevez, while Emmanuel Adebayor is back and playing again for City following suspension.
Barca’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain has refused to confirm the club’s intentions in the New Year, but highlights that the forward would be eligible to be registered for them in the UEFA Champions League.
“He’s a very interesting player and can play in the Champions League,” Begiristain told Sport.
Abhimanyu Rajput
Related posts
England call for Foster
October 11, 2009
Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has been called into the England squad for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Belarus as a replacement for the suspended Robert Green.
Foster originally missed out on selection after being sent for scans on bruised ribs sustained in Manchester United’s Barclays Premier League encounter with Sunderland last weekend.
However, at the time it was viewed by many as little more than a convenient excuse for England boss Fabio Capello to sideline the 26-year-old, who had been blamed for Kenwyne Jones’ second-half header for the Black Cats, just two weeks after he was held responsible for two Manchester City goals in the pulsating 4-3 derby win at Old Trafford.
But, with Green ruled out of Wednesday’s game following his dismissal in Saturday’s defeat to Ukraine, Capello has opted to show faith in Foster, who has been cleared to join up with the England camp after scans revealed nothing untoward.
It is ironic that Foster should benefit from someone else’s absence, given the number of times he has had to pull out of international squads himself as a result of various inuries.
For Green, serving a one-match ban will be a painful experience after he started the last seven internationals under Capello.
Eager to make an impression following the recall of David James, the West Ham goalkeeper lasted just 15 minutes at the Dnipro Arena before he brought down Artem Milevskiy after a mistake from Rio Ferdinand.
Initially, it seemed Ferdinand would take the punishment when he was shown the red card by referee Damir Skomina, which frustrated Capello intensely.
However, after consultation with fourth official Darko Ceferin, the decision was eventually reversed with Green the man correctly dismissed.
Abhimanyu Rajput
Related posts
Swedish coach prepares farewell
October 11, 2009
Lars Lagerback announced Sunday he would step down as Sweden’s coach if as expected the Scandinavians fail to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals.
Sweden lost 1-0 in Denmark on Saturday night and with Portugal beating Hungary 3-0 face elimination from Group One.
Lowly Malta would need to win or draw in Lisbon on Wednesday and Sweden to beat Albania to see Lagerback’s side reach the play-offs.
Lagerback told a press conference he and his deputy Roland Andersson would resign “whatever the result … either after the World Cup in South Africa, or after a play-off or after the Albania match,” on Wednesday.
Sweden have failed to even score in qualifiers against main rivals Denmark and Portugal and Lagerback, who has coached the national side since 2000, has come under increasing fire.
Former European champions Denmark secured automatic qualification for the 2010 finals after downing Sweden in Copenhagen. Sweden have 15 points, behind Portugal on 16.
Only group winners secure automatic qualification for the finals in South Africa next year, with the eight best group runners-up being forced into a two-leg play-off.
STOCKHOLM (AFP)
Related posts
Ronaldo out of Portugal´s final qualifier
October 11, 2009
Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo will not be fit to play in Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier against Malta on Wednesday.
Ronaldo had shaken off a twisted ankle to start Saturday’s Group One clash against Hungary, but lasted just 27 minutes of the 3-0 victory at the capital’s La Luz stadium.
“After a latest clinical examination and the impossibility of recovering from the knock on his right ankle, Cristiano Ronaldo has been allowed to leave (the squad),” the federation said in a statement on Sunday.
Portugal lie second in their group and need only to beat Malta at home to be sure of a place in the play-offs.
Denmark have won Group One after beating Sweden 1-0 on Saturday.
LISBON (AFP)
Related posts
Fabregas, Xavi among five Spanish to miss Bosnia match
October 11, 2009
Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Xavi are among five Spanish internationals who will miss their final World Cup qualifier against Bosnia on Wednesday.
Fabregas has opted out for personal reasons while Xavi is among three players to have picked up injury niggles.
Fenerbahce striker Dani Guiza was injured on Friday while Sevilla central defender Carlos Marchena picked up an injury during Spain’s 2-1 defeat of group opponents Armenia on Saturday. Xavi also picked up a knee knjury in that game.
Barcelona defender Carles Puyol’s yellow card tally is reaching dangerous levels and so he has been rested while Fabregas is out for “serious” family reasons, according to the Spanish football federation.
Spain are the current European champions and have already secured automatic qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
MADRID (AFP)
Related posts
Costa Rica beats UAE 2-1 to reach U-20 semis
October 11, 2009
Marcos Urena scored in the 122nd minute to lift CONCACAF champion Costa Rica to a 2-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Saturday and earn a semifinal match against Brazil at the Under-20 World Cup.
Urena ran onto a rebound at the top of the area after Allen Guevara’s shot was blocked by United Arab Emirates goalkeeper Yousif Abdulrahman. Guevara reacted quickly after Hamdan Al Kamali’s header of a long free kick all out of the back didn’t have enough pace to reach Abdulrahman.
Guevara flicked a shot from the middle of the area that Abdulrahman was able to block with his body, but the ball bounded to the top of the area, where Urena volleyed a low shot into the net.
Costa Rica, the last team to qualify for the knockout round and the only team from CONCACAF to advance past the group stage, next plays on Tuesday against Brazil – which has outscored its opponents 13-3 in five games and beat Germany 2-1 in extra time in its quarterfinal earlier Saturday.
The goal came against a United Arab Emirates side that had been reduced to 10 men three minutes earlier when Mohamed Fawzi was ejected for a two-footed tackle that upended second-half substitute Ricardo Blanco. The Emirates created more quality chances in the extra periods, outshot Costa Rica nearly two-to-one in the match and also had nearly twice as many corners and more possession.
The United Arab Emirates took the lead in the 33rd minute when Ahmed Khalil outraced Roy Smith on the right and send a ball across the face of goal, where Ahmed Ali beat David Guzman to redirect it past Costa Rica goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado.
The Ticos equalized four minutes later when Brian Oviedo sent in a cross from the left and Josue Martinez outleapt the UAE defense to drive a header into the top corner.
CAIRO, Egypt
Related posts
Mexico qualifies for fifth straight World Cup with 4-1 victory
October 11, 2009
Mexico qualified for a fifth straight World Cup on Saturday, using a first-half own-goal and second-half tallies from Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Paco Palencia and Carlos Vela to beat El Salvador 4-1 and end the visitors’ slim hopes.
The win gave Mexico 18 points, moving it atop the standings in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying pending two matches later Saturday.
Marvin Gonzalez’s misdirected clearance attempt in the 26th minute put Mexico ahead, but Blanco’s finish in the 71st, Palencia’s tally in the 85th and Vela’s finale in injury time assured Mexico of being the first team to clinch a berth out of CONCACAF.
El Salvador remained with eight points, four points behind fourth-placed Costa Rica with one match to play. The top three sides are guaranteed places in the 32-team World Cup field while the fourth-placed team faces the fifth-placed side from South America for the last berth in South Africa.
Gonzalez’s own goal came after Andres Guardado fed Guillermo Franco at the top of the area. Franco was closed down but managed to get the ball to Cuauthemoc Blanco as he came through the area. Gonzalez made a lunging left-footed tackle and then while on the ground tried to kick the ball away with his right, but only dribbled it past goalkeeper Miguel Montes.
With Mexico repeatedly threatening, Blanco finally converted to give El Tri insurance. Ricardo Osorio drove a long ball to Blanco, who backheeled to Carlos Vela, who returned with a backheel to Blanco.
Blanco fed Franco, who drove on goal until he reached the top of the area and then sent the ball wide to an unmarked Blanco, who finished past an approaching Montes. Palencia scored in his first national team appearance since March 28, 2007 and Vela finished the celebration.
The match was delayed after the start for about 8½ minutes when a swarm of flying insects began to nest along the crossbar of the El Salvador net at Estadio Azteca. Montes complained to Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres as both swatted away the pests.
Batres halted the match in the second minute and grounds crews fumigated the goal area and another area that included television sound equipment. The effort appeared to work although players and others could be seen swatting a stray insect from time to time.
Mexico had the better of quality chances including Carlos Vela’s bicycle attempt that Montes had to dive to block with both hands eight minutes into first-half injury time, and a left-footed free kick by Andres Guardado that skipped off the crossbar in the 56th.
Montes kept the game within a goal in the 68th, extending fully to get his fingertips to a header by Franco that skipped just wide of the the right post.
El Salvador relied on the counter and had its best chance in the 13th minute on a 25-meter free kick by Eliseo Quintanilla that skipped wide of the near post. Julio Martinez scored a consolation goal for El Salvador in the 88th, driving a 30-meter free kick past goalkeeper Memo Ochoa.
Besides winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July, Mexico has won five straight World Cup qualifiers since a 2-1 loss at El Salvador on June 6. The loss was El Salvador’s fourth in its last five games, with its only victory at home against Costa Rica on September 9.
MEXICO CITY
Related posts
Chile qualifies, Argentina struggles in WC drama
October 11, 2009
Diego Maradona’s Argentina side struggled past doormat Peru 2-1 to set up a Wednesday showdown at Uruguay for a World Cup 2010 berth while Chile booked a place in South Africa by beating Colombia 4-2.
The penultimate night of South American qualifying matches for next year’s global football showdown saw Argentina avoid a shocking upset in stoppage time while Chile made an impressive qualifying run pay off on two second-half goals.
Martin Palmero, recalled to the national side by Maradona after a decade’s absence and inserted at the start of the second half, tapped in a goal in the second minute of stoppage time after Peru had equalized in the 90th minute.
“The victory gives us new life,” Maradona said. “It was a very dramatic finish. Now we go to Uruguay to play for a place in the World Cup.”
After being booed off the field following a goal-less first half and looking undone, Argentina has a one-point edge over Uruguay heading into their showdown for the last automatic World Cup spot from South America.
Gonzalo Higuain took a pass from Pablo Aimar and scored from an angle in the 48th minute to give Argentina a 1-0 lead.
But Peru, a side with two wins in 17 final-round qualifying matches, stunned the hosts in the 90th minute when Hernan Rengifo headed home an equalizer in a driving wind and rain.
Much-crtiticized Maradona, the retired star player whose rocky tenure as coach would be considered an epic failure if Argentina misses the World Cup, found salvation thanks to Palmero.
Argentina improved to 7-6 with four drawn in qualifying for 25 points entering a showdown match next Wednesday at Uruguay, which won 2-1 at Ecuador to remain on Argentina’s heels at 6-5 with six drawn and 24 points.
Whichever side wins will book the last automatic spot in the World Cup finals, joining Brazil, Paraguay and Chile.
The loser would need help to hold off Ecuador for fifth place, which would book a berth against North America’s fourth-place finisher to decide a berth in South Africa.
Should Argentina and Uruguay draw, Argentina would have the edge for the last automatic spot while Ecuador would need to rout Chile to overcome a goal-difference edge for Argentina and nudge them out of fourth.
Host Colombia opened the scoring when Chile’s Arturo Vidal put the ball in his own net, but Waldo Ponce answered for Chile in the 34th minute and Humberto Suazo added another in the next minute for a 2-1 Chilean halftime lead.
Giovanni Moreno pulled the hosts level in the 63rd minute but the Chileans, knowing a victory would book them a World Cup berth, grabbed the lead for good on Jorge Valdivia’s goal in the 70th minute.
Fabian Orellana added an insurance tally in the 78th minute and Chile joined Brazil and Paraguay as World Cup qualifying nations from South America.
Antonio Valencia put Ecuador up in the 68th minute but Luis Suarez answered for Uruguay in the next minute and Diego Forlan hit the winner on a penalty four minutes into stoppage time to give Uruguay the victory.
Paraguay edged Venezuela 2-1 to eliminate the hosts from any chance at an automatic spot. Salvador Cabanas scored in the 56th minute and Oscar Cardozo added a goal in the 80th minute for Paraguay. Alexander Rondon answered in the 86th for Venezuela, which most hope to reach South Africa by the playoff route.
BUENOS AIRES (AFP)
Related posts
Calendar
Related Sites
- AFP
- e-soccertips
- Free Themes All - Blogger, Wordpress, Joomla themes
- Soccer Results
- soccerway
- WAGS
- WAGS Blog
Categories
- 1 League
- A PFG
- A-League
- African
- Argentina
- Belgium
- Brasil
- Bundesliga
- CAF Champions League
- Club Friendlies
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup
- Cup
- English Championship
- English Premier League
- Eredivisie
- European Championships
- FA Cup
- FIFA
- Franch
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Jupiler League
- LA Liga
- LigaBwin
- Ligue 1
- MLS
- netherlands
- Olympics
- Olympics Women
- Photo
- portugal
- premier league
- Primera Division
- Rusia Premier League
- scotland
- Scottish Premier League
- Serie A
- Super Copa
- Super League
- Sweden
- Turkcell Süper Lig
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Cup
- Umaglesi Liga
- Uncategorized
- United States
- Video
- Vietnam
- Wag Watch
- WAGS
- WC Qualifying Asia
- WC Qualifying Concacaf
- WC Qualifying Europe
- WC Qualifying South-Africa
- WC Qualifying South-America
- World Cup
