Uruguay down Costa Rica to seize World Cup edge

November 15, 2009


Uruguay took a step toward the 2010 World Cup Saturday as captain Diego Lugano’s first-half strike proved enough for a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their qualifying playoff against Costa Rica.

The second leg of the tie will be on Wednesday in Montevideo, where Costa Rica can expect to be hard pressed to turn things around.

But Costa Rica’s Brazilian coach Rene Simoes insisted his players can win in Stadio Centenario.

“We have to believe in ourselves,” Simoes said. “Why ca’t we win in Centenario?”

Uruguay are hoping to return to the global football showcase after failing to qualify in 2006.

Costa Rica, who have appeared in the last two World Cups, were less than 30 seconds from qualifying last month when they allowed Jonathan Bornstein’s goal in injury time to give the United States a 2-2 draw at Washington.

That gave Honduras the third and final direct entry berth from the North and Central America and the Caribbean region.

Uruguay reached the playoff by finishing fifth in South American qualifying.

In an often patchy first half, it was Uruguay who pressed the action forward.

Costa Rica, unable to challenge Uruguayan keeper Fernando Muslera, were unlucky in the 20th minute when injury forced defender Gilberto Martinez off after a collision with Alvaro Fernandez.

While he was receiving treatment, Uruguay took full advantage as Diego Forlan came close to scoring with a center that crossed the face of the goal.

On the ensuing corner Forlan rose to head the ball, Costa Rica failed to clear the danger and Lugano seized upon the loose ball to slot it home in the 21st minute.

Costa Rica had a chance to equalize shortly before halftime, but Bryan Ruiz’s header off Randall Azofeifa’s cross went over the crossbar.

Costa Rica’s efforts to find the equalizer were further hindered when they were reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when Azofeifa recieved his second yellow card.

Uruguay were unable to capitalize on their advantage, but neither could Costa Rica make their spirited efforts pay as attempts from Alvaro Saborio and Walter Centeno failed to really test Muslera.

Fernandez had a chance to add to Uruguay’s lead with three minutes remaining, but his header was blocked by Junior Diaz.

Simoes said Costa Rica’s big mistake was failing to apply enough pressure on the Uruguayan goal in the first half.

“We played very well in the second half. This part of the match was really good.”

SAN JOSE (AFP)

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Mexico, Honduras notch key World Cup qualifying wins

August 13, 2009


Miguel Sabah’s 81st-minute goal lifted Mexico to a 2-1 victory over the United States in a 2010 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday while Honduras felled regional leaders Costa Rica 4-0.

The victory at famed Azteca Stadium kept the United States winless on Mexican soil and bolstered Mexico’s chances of advancing from the six-nation final round of qualifying in the North and Central America and Caribbean region.

“Today is a day to celebrate, and then get back to work,” said coach Javier Aguirre, who was brought in to replace Sven Goran Eriksson after a stuttering start to Mexico’s campaign. “Everybody will go to bed tonight a bit more relaxed.”

But Honduras’ victory in San Pedro Sula saw Mexico finish the night still in fourth place in the group, from which only the top three teams advance directly to next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

The fourth-placed team will play off for a berth against a team from South America.

The home fixture was a welcome chance for Mexico, who have never lost at home to the United States. The only time the US had managed to share the points was in a goalless draw in 1997.

When Charlie Davies put the United States ahead with his ninth-minute strike off a through ball from Landon Donovan, it marked the first time the US had ever held the lead at Azteca.

“This is what you live for, especially as a striker scoring bigtime goals,” Davies said.

But it didn’t last long.

Israel Castro equalized 10 minutes later, his shot from outside the penalty area sailing just under the crossbar and out of reach of Howard.

Castro’s equalizer energized the crowd of 90,000 at Azteca, who were keen to see Mexico repeat their 5-0 rout of a a young US side in the Gold Cup final last month.

While the United States fielded a stronger team for this qualifier, they still couldn’t end their history of south of the border futility.

Sabah, who came on in the 78th, needed just minutes to make his presence felt. He took full advantage of a ball from the left from Efrain Juarez and blasted past US keeper Tim Howard.

“The guy turned on it quickly and smashed it has hard as he could,” Howard said.

“It’s a tough loss, to have so many guys work so hard and then give up a late goal,” said US coach Bob Bradley. “The feeling inside is one of great disappointment.”

Honduras seized second place in the standings with their 4-0 triumph over Costa Rica.

Carlo Costly in the 30th and in second-half injury time, Carlos Pavon in the 50th and Melvin Valladares in the 89th delivered the goals that put Honduras on 10 points, two behind Costa Rica. The United States also have 10 points, followed by Mexico on nine.

At Port of Spain, Cornell Glen scored in the seventh minute and Trinidad and Tobago made the goal stand up for a 1-0 victory over El Salvador – their first of the final round.

Trinidad and Tobago remained in last place, now with the same five points as fifth-placed El Salvador.

Qualifying continues next month, with matches on September 5 and September 9.

On the fifth, Costa Rica host Mexico, Honduras host Trinidad and Tobago and the United States host El Salvador.

On the ninth, Mexico host Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago host the USA and El Salvador host Costa Rica.

MEXICO CITY (AFP)

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Mexico down USA 2-1 in key World Cup qualifier

August 13, 2009


Miguel Sabah’s 81st-minute goal lifted Mexico to a 2-1 victory over the United States in a 2010 World Cup qualifier in the North and Central America and Caribbean region.

With the victory Mexico kept the United States winless at Azteca Stadium and bolstered their own chances of advancing from the six-nation final round of qualifying into next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

Sabah, who came on in the 78th, needed just minutes to make his presence felt with his blast past US keeper Tim Howard.

Charlie Davies had given the United States the lead with his ninth-minute strike, and Israel Castro equalized 10 minutes later.

Mexico had gone into the match lying fourth in the group, from which the top three teams automatically advance to the World Cup finals. The fourth-placed team will play off for a berth against a team from South America.

The United States started the match lying second to Costa Rica, who were playing at Honduras later in the day. Winless Trinidad and Tobago hosted El Salvador in the day’s other match.

MEXICO CITY (AFP)

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Costa Ricans rip US for World Cup lead

June 4, 2009


SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AFP) – Alvario Saborio and Selso Borges scored early goals to give Costa Rica a 3-1 victory over the United States here, putting the Ticos atop North America’s World Cup 2010 qualifying.

Costa Rica improved to 3-1 for nine points in the North and Central America and Caribbean region (CONCACAF) to move past the Americans, who slid to 2-1-1 for seven points to stand second in the six-nation hexagonal qualifying event.

The top three teams advance directly to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. The fourth-place team must come through against the fifth-best from South America in a playoff to reach South Africa.

The Americans suffered their sixth loss in a row at Costa Rica, the longest US road losing streak to any foe, and remained winless on the artificial turf of Saprissa Stadium, known for rowdy supporters fenced off near the pitch.

The Ticos seized the lead in the opening seconds when Saborio sent the ball high and bent it around diving US goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Saborio netted the second-fastest goal ever allowed by the US lineup in a World Cup qualifier, the only faster being a header in the first minute by Carlos Hermosillio in a 2-2 draw with Mexico from 1997.

Borges took a pass from Esteban Sirias and blasted the ball into the net in the 12th minute to double the hosts’ edge.

Pablo Herrera put the finishing touches on the rout in the 68th minute as the margin matched the 3-0 drubbing suffered by the US team in 2005 in their most recent prior visit to Costa Rica.

Landon Donovan averted a shutout with a penalty kick in the second minute of stoppage time, netting the first US goal in Costa Rica since 2000 with a right-footed blast.

Adding to the Americans’ woes was a yellow card on US midfielder Michael Bradley in the 55th minute, one that will keep him out Saturday against Honduras in Chicago in the next qualifying match.

US forward Brian Ching had a hamstring injury and missed the match, which was brought forward one week to allow the Americans to prepare for and play in the FIFA Confederations Cup later this month in South Africa.

Qualifying matches continue Saturday when Costa Rica will visit Trinidad and Tobago, the US squad plays host to Honduras and Mexico will travel to El Salvador.

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USA, Costa Rica start stong in final push for World Cup 2010

February 13, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AFP) – Michael Bradley’s brace of goals lifted the United States to a 2-0 victory over Mexico, while Andy Furtado struck twice for Costa Rica in a 2-0 World Cup 2010 qualifying win over Honduras on Wednesday.

El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago played to a 2-2 draw in the remaining match on the slate as the six-nation final phase of qualifying for the North and Central America and Caribbean region got underway.

In Columbus, Bradley opened the scoring in the 43rd minute and added another goal in the 90th – after Mexico had been reduced to 10 men with the sending off of Rafael Marquez in the 65th minute.

Bradley gave the hosts the lead late in the first half after a corner kick by DaMarcus Beasley found Landon Donovan at the far post.

Donovan headed the ball back acoss the goal mouth, and while Oguchi Onyewu’s header was denied by Oswaldo Sanchez the rebound fell at the feet of Bradley.

"These are special games, they?re fun games to play in," Bradley said. "As a player, these are the games we want to play in. In the locker room before the game, we looked at every guy and knew we were ready to play."

Pushing for an equalizer, Mexico’s aggressive play resulted in a red card in the 65th when Marquez was sent off after kicking US goalkeeper Tim Howard in the right thigh during a rough challenge.

The expulsion came in the aftermath of Mexico’s best scoring chance of the match.

Pavel Pardo sent a free kick from the center of the field into the penalty area where a touch from Giovani Dos Santos set up Fausto Pinto on the left side of the box.

Pinto slid a dangerous shot past an open goal that was somehow missed at the far post for an easy tap-in by Dos Santos, and as the ball was played back into the area Howard jumped to collect it before he was spiked by Marquez.

"It was a 50-50 ball and he came in a little bit late and, you know, those kind of things happen in these type of games," Howard said of Marquez. "I respect him a lot as a player and there are no hard feelings, that’s for sure."

With the extra man and the lead, the US played conservatively the rest of the way.

Bradley punctuated the victory with a goal in injury time, collecting a pass from Donovan and firing a low shot from the top of the area past Sanchez.

In San Jose, Furtado scored twice in the space of 11 minutes – in the 48th and 59th – to lift Costa Rica to a 2-0 victory.

After a scoreless first half, Furtado opened Costa Rica’s account by heading a free kick from the right by Celso Borges past goalkeeper Noel Valladares.

Furtado struck again 11 minutes later, receiving another ball from the right and unleashing a blistering shot.

In San Salvador, two goals from Osael Romero in the 79th and 90th earned the draw for the hosts after Trinidad and Tobago took a 2-0 lead in the first half.

Carlos Edwards opened the scoring for the visitors in the seventh minute, firing a shot from outside the area that eluded goalkeeper Juan Jose Gomez.

Veteran Dwight Yorke doubled the margin in the 27th, converting a penalty resulting from Luis Hernandez’s foul on Stern John.

El Salvador’s attempts to pull back were frustrated by Trinidad keeper Clayton Ince until the 79th, when Romero scored from a free kick from just outside the area.

Romero stamped himself the hero for the hosts with his equaliser in injury time.

The United States and Costa Rica finished the night with three points apiece, followed by El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago with one.

The top three teams from the final "hexagonal" round will advance directly to the World Cup finals in South Africa, while the fourth-placed team will play off for a berth against the fifth-placed team from South America.

The next matches are on March 28, when Trinidad and Tobago host Honduras, Mexico host Costa Rica and El Salvador host the United States.

Written by: AFP

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