2009: Honduras joins USA, Mexico in World Cup

December 22, 2009


To some, which teams would get to the World Cup from CONACACAF was clear.

After one game of the final round of CONCACAF qualifying – or the “hexagonal”, former international coach Bora Milutinovic made what many thought was a bold prediction.

“Mexico, USA and Honduras will be the first three,” he said when spied by a reporter in Columbus, Ohio, an hour after the United States beat Mexico 2-0 on February 11.

Milutinovic, who had coached all three teams, including Costa Rica, was amazingly prophetic.

Mexico and the United States have made it a habit, both qualifying in each of the last five World Cups. Honduras clinched a berth for the first time in more than a generation — since 1982.

The odd team out was Costa Rica, which had qualified for the 2002 and 2006 tournaments.

For the second time in three qualifying cycles, the Mexicans needed coach Javier Aguirre to rescue their campaign at the start of the final round. Sven Goran-Eriksson was fired as coach and Aguirre was brought in the rescue an underachieving side. He accomplished that feat in 2001.

Given a new direction and vitality, the Mexicans gained momentum and qualified as the hottest team in CONCACAF. They clinched a spot behind a 4-1 home win over El Salvador at Estadio Azteca October 10 to finish with a 6-1-3 record and 19 points.

The United States likewise claimed their place in the 32-team South Africa field with a game to spare, outlasting Honduras 3-2 in San Pedro Sula to earn a sixth straight trip to the World Cup and finish atop the qualifying standings (6-2-2, 20) – one point ahead of Mexico.

Conor Casey, who had never started a qualifier or an important international match and who had a 14-game scoreless streak, scored twice for the Americans. The encounter was so riveting that the capacity crowd applauded the effort, despite the home side going down to defeat when Honduran veteran Carlos Pavon put an 87th-minute penalty kick over the bar.

That sent the last berth down to the last match day to decide between Honduras and Costa Rica.

Costa Rica needed at least a draw against the United States in Washington and loss by Honduras in El Salvador. A Honduras victory would require a Costa Rica victory for the Ticos to advance.

Neither scenario occurred.

Pavon atoned for his penalty miss four days earlier with a 65th-minute tally to give Honduras (5-1-4, 16 points) a 1-0 victory and a chance to go to the World Cup. But its efforts seemed in vain, with Costa Rica taking a 2-0 first-half lead over the United States and still leading 2-1 heading into extra time.

But U.S. defender Jonathan Bornstein scored 4 1/2 minutes into stoppage time, lifting the Americans to a 2-2 draw and earning himself hero status in Honduras.

Costa Rica (5-1-4, 16 points), was denied its berth on goal difference, but had another opportunity to qualify in a two-leg playoff against Uruguay, the fifth-place finisher from South America.

However, the Central American side lost at home to Uruguay in the first leg in San Jose, Costa Rica, on November 14, and wasn’t able to overtake the South Americans four days later in Montevideo, settling for a 1-1 draw and only hopes for 2012.

By Michael Lewis

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Spain sitting pretty after World Cup draw

December 5, 2009


European champions Spain, favourites for the World Cup, will have a firm eye on potential opponents in the last 16 after being drawn with Honduras, Chile and Switzerland in Group H.

The Spanish, whose best World Cup performance was a fourth-place finish in 1950, will be making their 12th tournament appearance and have never lost to any of their three group rivals.

And the trio will likely suffer should Spain’s exemplary qualifying prowess continue.

Spain, along with the Netherlands, were one of only two teams to qualify from the European zone unbeaten, notching up 10 wins, scoring 28 goals and conceding just five in the process.

The team’s success has been based on quality and balance throughout a side dripping class.

Captain Iker Casillas is one of the world’s finest goalkeepers, while Xavi is vital to Spain’s fluid one-touch style with his inch-perfect passing and vision. Up front, Europe boasts no finer finishers than David Villa and Fernando Torres.

Rafael Callejas, head of the Honduran football federation, said much preparation lay ahead for his team, ranked 38th in the FIFA standings and set for only their second World Cup participation after their 1982 appearance when they went out in the first round.

“We face very high level teams in Spain, Switzerland and Chile,” he said. “Honduras must prepare itself very well.”

Honduras reached the finals in dramatic fashion thanks to a last-second equaliser in the USA’s clash with Costa Rica, and will look to the professionalism of Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda and evergreen striker Carlos Pavon to guide them through their pool campaign.

Fellow Hispanophones Chile, ranked 17th by FIFA and boasting the youngest average age of all the South American teams, make a return to the World Cup after a 12-year absence.

Coached by Argentinian veteran Marcelo Bielsa, Chile qualified behind Brazil in the South American zone with their steely resolve mirrored in an impressive away record.

Making up Group H are Switzerland, who reached the last 16 in 2006 before falling on penalties to Ukraine. They overcame a shocking 2-1 defeat to minnows Luxembourg to top their pool in European qualification.

The team, now coached by German Ottmar Hitzfeld, features a healthy blend of youth and experience, combining talented younger players such as Eren Derdiyok, Tranquillo Barnetta and keeper Diego Benaglio with seasoned campaigners like Alexander Frei and Blaise N’Kufo.

CAPE TOWN (AFP)

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W Connection remains alive with 3-2 victory over Real Espana

October 22, 2009


Jose Carlos Diaz scored twice in three minutes and Jose Luis Seabra-Filho scored another to keep alive W Connection’s hopes for a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League, leading a 3-2 victory over Real Espana on Wednesday.

The result eliminated Espana, leaving it with six points and tied with Comunicaciones, while W Connection climbed to second place in Group D with seven.

Comunicaciones can claim the last place in the knockout round from the group with a victory at home against Pumas on Thursday, but a draw will send the Trinidadian side through as the Caribbean’s lone representative in the quarterfinals. Pumas already has clinched the group title and a berth in the final eight.

Diaz scored in the sixth and ninth minutes to give an early lead to W Connection, and — after Espana rallied with an equalizing goal by Carlos Pavon in the 57th – Seabra-Filho scored the winner in the 65th.

Diaz put W Connection early, taking the ball outside the penalty area, dribbling around Espana defender Marion Pena and unleashing a left-footed shot from 22 yards that eluded goalkeeper Marcelo Macias.

Pena was victimized by Diaz less than three minutes later, outracing the Espana defender to a cross from Elkin Gonzales at the right post and side footing the ball for a tap-in.

Espana increased its intensity immediately with both Pavon and Douglas getting dangerous chances before Douglas pulled Espana within a goal in injury time.

The Brazilian took a ball just outside the box, turned and hit a low right-footed shot inside the far post.

Pavon, who was the hero with his second-half goal a week ago against El Salvador that qualified Honduras for its first World Cup since 1982, seemingly brought Espana back to life. Jairo Dainiel Puerto Herrera sent a cross that bounced twice before Pavon beat defender Nickolson Thomas and tapped in at the back post.

Seabra-Filho, who replaced the injured Diaz just before halftime than tallied the winner, settling a cross and beating Macias from 10 meters just inside the right post.

MARABELLA, Trinidad

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Comunicaciones, Real Espana, W Connection scramble in Group D

October 20, 2009


Pumas has clinched a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. Everything else is up for grabs in Group D.

The other three teams are still alive for the final spot in the knockout stage, which will make for a more than a few frayed nerves and scoreboard watching.

Comunicaciones and Real Espana are level with six points apiece after five matches, two points ahead of W Connection.

W Connection hosts Real Espana on Wednesday at Manny Ramjohn Stadium and the Savonetta Boys will need a victory just to have a chance to advance. W Connection moved atop the TT Pro League Big Six standings after two matches following a 2-0 win against Defence Force at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Mexican Jose Carlos Diaz scored his first goal for W Connection, an insurance goal in the 40th minute, 20 minutes after Eder Gilmar Aras put his team ahead.

Diaz, who joined W Connection three weeks ago as a free agent, previously played alongside W Connection goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams at Ferencvarosi TC in the eastern division of the Hungarian National Championship II. Williams recommended the Mexican striker to coach Stuart Charles Fevrier.

Led by Honduran World Cup hero Carlos Pavon, Real Espana is third in the Honduran Apertura, five points behind Olimpia. Real Espana fell to Olimpia 2-0 on October 7 in Tegucigalpa as Rigoberto Padilla struck for both goals in the final nine minutes.

On Thursday, Comunicaciones hosts Pumas in the final Group D match. After suffering a 2-1 loss to Heredia on Wednesday, Los Cremas’ third straight loss in the Guatemalan Apertura, Comunicaciones bounced back with a 1-1 draw against Municipal Sunday.

Pumas failed to follow up on a 2-0 win against Chiapas and fell to San Luis 1-0 on Saturday in the Mexican Apertura. Braulio Luna scored the game’s lone goal in the 64th minute, capitalizing on a defensive breakdown deep in Pumas defensive third.

Pumas remained last in Group 3 of the Apertura with eight points from 12 matches, but have joined fellow Mexican squads Cruz Azul and Pachuca in the knockout stage.

The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals. The knockout stage draw will take place on November 17 at CONCACAF headquarters in New York.

By Dylan Butler

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Bornstein goal ripples through CONCACAF

October 16, 2009


Jonathan Bornstein’s equalizer deep into second-half stoppage time did more than just earn a 2-2 draw for the United States against Costa Rica. It rippled through CONCACAF.

It gave the United States bragging rights over Mexico, forced Costa Rica into another two games to try to earn qualification to South Africa, and – most importantly – help send Honduras to only its second World Cup and first since 1982.

“Bornstein, Honduras te ama” (Bornstein, Honduras loves you) screamed the headline in Honduras’ La Prensa on Thursday.

The defender’s header finished the United States atop the six-team standings in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, one point in front of Mexico, which played Trinidad & Tobago to a 2-2 draw in Port-of-Spain.

It was the second straight time the Americans had finished first in World Cup qualifying, just ahead of Mexico – which was some satisfaction after being routed 5-0 in the Gold Cup final by their arch nemesis in July.

“We are very proud to win the group,” U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. “It took a really determined strong effort by our team and we always talk about when you step on the field, you show people what you’re all about. Tonight is not the way you draw it up on the board before the game, but it still showed the mentality, the spirit and we’re very proud of that.”

It was an emotional result for the United States, which dedicated the game to forward Charlie Davies, who was seriously injured in a fatal, one-car accident early Tuesday morning.

“For me, and a lot of the guys, Charlie is a brother,” Jozy Altidore said. “We’re all very close and that news hurt us a lot. We played with him in our hearts tonight and I think it helped us out big.”

Carlos Pavon, who missed a critical penalty kick in a 3-2 loss to the United States Saturday night in San Pedro Sula, achieved some redemption, scoring the lone goal in the 1-0 win against El Salvador. But it still appeared Los Catrachos was destined to finish fourth with Costa Rica leading 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining in Washington.

However Michael Bradley struck in the 72nd minute and Bornstein followed with the equalizer with 30 seconds left in the match, setting off a wild celebration at RFK Stadium, but also in Honduras.

“We knew it would be a very tight game with an El Salvador team that is very well drilled, but that’s football,” Honduran coach Reinaldo Rueda said. “Today it’s the Honduran fans’ and the team’s turn to celebrate, thanks to the work of many years. Now we have months of work, months of matches and let’s hope this victory works out for the good of all.”

While Honduras claimed CONCACAF’s third automatic bid to the 2010 World Cup ongoal difference ahead of Costa Rica, the Ticos were relegated to a two-leg aggregate series against Uruguay, the fifth-place finisher in South America, for the last berth in the 32-team World Cup field

“First I have to rebuild their spirits,” Ticos coach Rene Simoes said. “They are in the dumps. This was a shock to them. Everything was going fine up until the last minute. The game just ended and it’s just very sad.”

Like the United States, Mexico already had qualified for South Africa ahead of the final matchday. El Tri played the Soca Warriors to a 2-2 draw in Port-of-Spain, but Mexico manager Javier Aguirre wasn’t upset about failing to finish atop the group.

“We came through in qualification,” Aguirre said. “They never said we had to be first.”
Aguirre took over after Sven-Goran Eriksson was sacked following consecutive losses to Honduras and El Salvador. As he did in 2001 when he replaced Hugo Sanchez, Aguirre helped lead El Tri, which won five straight before Wednesday’s draw, to the World Cup.

“I am satisfied because we qualified for the World Cup,” Aguirre said. “I am also satisfied because that’s what they hired me for. I am delighted to see that the players have recuperated their pride in playing for their country.”

By Dylan Butler

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Honduras qualifies for first World Cup since 1982

October 15, 2009


A 65th minute goal by veteran striker Carlos Pavon put Honduras into the World Cup for only the second time and first since 1982, giving “los Catrachos” a 1-0 victory over El Salvador on Wednesday and trip to South Africa.

Pavon, playing in his 93rd game for Honduras leapt above El Salvador defender Alexander Escobar at the top of the six-yard box and unleashed a strong header into the top left corner of the El Salvador goal.

The result moved Honduras into third place in the CONCACAF “hexagonal” with 16 points, same as Costa Rica but ahead on goal difference. Costa Rica appeared headed to the World Cup for the third straight time, but allowed an injury-time equalizer and drew 2-2 with the United States.

Honduras midfielder David Suazo had raced down the wing and spun in a perfect cross to Pavon, who drove the the ball past El Salvador goalkeeper Miguel Montes.

The goal was Pavon’s Honduras career-leading 56th and also helped him avenge Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the United States, where Pavon missed a penalty kick in the 86th minute.

The strike by Pavon reversed a trend in a match where the home side had enjoyed the majority of possession and scoring chances but couldn’t get the ball past Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares.

In the 18th minute El Salvador had the first chance to open the scoring when midfielder Eliseo Quintanilla made a strong diagonal move across the top of the penalty area and sent a pass Arturo Alvarez.

Instead of shooting the ball, Alvarez then sent a drop pass to Christian Castillo, who unleashed a hard shot which spun wide of goal.

One minute later, the visitors appeared to have taken the lead when Suazo found himself alone in front of the El Salvador goal.

However goalkeeper Montes rushed off his line and made a spectacular save to deny the visitors.

El Salvador continued to apply pressure against the visitors and were unlucky not to convert when Castillo drew three defenders at the top of the penalty area and then sent a side-footed pass to Salvador Correas, whose effort spun just wide of the Honduras goal.

Quintanilla, who had been instrumental in the success of El Salvador, was involved in a nasty collision with Honduras defender Osman Chavez in the 30th minute and eventually limped off the field 10 minutes later, replaced by Osael Romero.

The halftime break didn’t seem to motivate the visitors any better as Valladares was called into turn away a strong long distance effort from El Salvador’s Alexander Escobar in the 54th minute and a hard point-blank shot from Arturo Alvarez just four minutes earlier.

In the 90th minute, as El Salvador continued to press, Valladares again came to the rescue pushing a long distance effort by Alvarez just over the bar.

In injury time, Deris Umanzor found himself in great position at the top of the penalty area but his effort was blocked by Julio de Leon.

At the final whistle news of the result from Washington had reached the Honduras players on the field and the thousands of fans in the stands who had travelled with their team and a wild celebration ensued.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador

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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

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Five CCL quarterfinal berths to be decided in last round

October 3, 2009


With three berths already clinched, the final five CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal spots will be decided on the final matchday of the Group Stage.

Joining Cruz Azul in the knockout stage are fellow Mexican squads Pumas and Pachuca, while Toluca missed an opportunity to claim its place by losing 2-0 to Marathon in San Pedro Sula Thursday night.

Pumas, which sits atop Group D, advanced with a 2-1 win against W Connection Wednesday night in Mexico City. Paco Palencia and Oscar Rojas scored second-half goals for Pumas, which has earned a seeded quarterfinal berth as a result of winning the group.
The race for the second berth from Group D is wide open. Comunicaciones and Real Espana are level with six points apiece after five matches and W Connection has four points. On October 21, the Savonetta Boys host Real Espana, which snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Comunicaciones 2-0 on Wednesday night in San Pedro Sula.

Fredy Thompson’s own-goal and Carlos Pavon’s fourth goal of the tournament kept the Honduran side alive. Comunicaciones is home for Pumas on October 22.

In its first win against the Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium, Pachuca sealed a knockout stage berth with a 1-0 victory Wednesday night. Edgar Ramirez scored the lone goal for Los Tuzos, which leads Group A with 12 points.

“I am satisfied with my team’s performance tonight,” Pachuca coach Guillermo Rivarola said. “The team was smart and was able to dictate the rhythm of the game and that gave us a chance to take home the three points.”

Arabe Unido thrashed winless Metapan 6-0 Tuesday night to move a step closer to the quarterfinals. Orlando Rodriguez scored three goals and Camilo Aguirre added two for the Panamanian squad, which is three points ahead of the Houston Dynamo heading into the final day of the group stage.

The second berth will be decided on October 21 when Arabe Unido and Pachuca meet in Estadio Hidalgo, while Houston travels to El Salvador to take on Metapan.

“Overall I was happy with the way the guys played,” Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. “[The loss] puts us in a difficult position. We know what we have to do now, go to El Salvador and win and hope that Pachuca beat Arabe Unido.”

The Columbus Crew was minutes away from clinching a berth in the quarterfinals, but Alexander Robinson scored a dramatic second-half stoppage time equalizer for Deportivo Saprissa in a 1-1 draw at Crew Stadium Tuesday night.

“It was live or die,” Saprissa coach Jeaustin Campos said. “We tried to move forward and made substitutes to try to score and we gave them a lot of space. Sometimes we showed some weakness in the defense but that’s what we had to do to play for the tie.”

The Crew is second in Group C with seven points, two in front of Saprissa while the Puerto Rico Islanders, a surprise semifinalist a year ago, was eliminated from advancement with a 2-0 loss at Estadio Azul Tuesday night.

On Oct.ober20, Columbus can advance with a draw against Puerto Rico in Bayamon, while Saprissa is home for Cruz Azul.

“We still have a chance,” Columbus coach Robert Warzycha said. “It’s going to be an important game in Puerto Rico. The guys know that.”

Toluca is three points clear of both D.C. United and Marathon in Group B, but failed to become the fourth Mexican team to
advance to the knockout stages when Marathon handed Diablos Rojos its first loss of the group stage on Thursday.

Walter Martinez and Carlos Mejia scored first-half goals for Marathon, which travels to Trinidad to take on winless San Juan Jabloteh on October 22. Christian Gomez and Boyzzz Khumalo scored two goals apiece and Fred scored the other goal to lead D.C. United to a 5-1 thumping of Jabloteh on Wednesday night at RFK Stadium.

D.C. heads to Nemesio Diaz to take on Toluca on October 20 and could potentially go through as long as they match Marathon’s result. A year ago, the Major League Soccer team had just one point from six group stage matches.

“This year we’ve treated the game very importantly, no matter who is on the field,” D.C. coach Tommy Soehn said. “We’ve taken the time to make sure we understand what the games are about. It’s never easy with all the travel, but still understanding that we’re looking to qualify and now we’ve put ourselves in a good way to do that.”

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Pumas closes on quarterfinals with 4-0 victory

September 25, 2009


Pumas moved to the verge of reaching the quarterfinals in the CONCACAF Champions League Thursday night, beating Real Espana 4-0 to all but assure its advancement.

Victor Rosales scored his second goal of the tournament and Ismael Inquez added another — both in the first half — to pace Pumas, which improved to 10 points atop Group D and extended its lead to four points over second-place Comunicaciones.

W Connection of Trinidad is third in the group with four points, while Espana remained last with three points and two games remaining. Only two teams advance.

Cruz Azul is the only team to have clinched a berth in the knockout round, but Pumas joined fellow Mexican club Toluca as teams within a point of the final eight.

Pumas, which has only one victory in the Mexican Apertura and is 16th in the 18-team league, can claim its place with a draw at home on Wednesday against W Connection.

The Mexican side pressed Espana from the start, creating chances by Luis Funtes, Fernando Espinoza, Eduardo Gamez and Iniguez in a six-minute span that either went high or wide and never really tested goalkeeper Marcelo Macias.

Pumas finally converted in the 21st when Iniguez took a short corner, dribbled across the top of the area and launched a right-footed shot that Macias was slow reacting to, getting an arm to deflect it downward but letting it slip between him and the near post.

A second short corner enabled Pumas to double its lead in the 40th. Arturo Rodriguez sent a cross into the box where Rosales climbed from the edge of the goal box and headed a shot into the far side netting.

Iniguez figured prominently in the third goal as well, breaking down the right and launching a cross that struck the right thigh of Espana defender Maynor Martinez for an own-goal. The ball looped high over Macias and deflected in off the far post.

Fuentes assisted on the finale, driving to the top of the Espana area before sending a short ball to Javier Cortes, who took one touch to put the ball in position and then chipped a right-footed floater over Macias from the arc.

Fuentes also put a drive off the right post in first-half injury time in a game where Espana had few dangerous moments. Carlos Pavon closed on Alejandro Palacios in the 29th, but the Pumas keeper thwarted the left-footed try with a diving right hand that pushed the ball wide. Douglas Matosso also had an effort from distance in the 50th that Palacios also did well to deny.

MEXICO CITY

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Mexico shock Costa Rica; USA, Honduras win

September 6, 2009


Mexico dealt Costa Rica a damaging home defeat while Honduras and the United States won to shake up the standings in 2010 World Cup qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Mexico more than met the challenge of taking on Costa Rica on the artificial pitch at notoriously hostile Saprissa Stadium, winning 3-0 with goals from Giovanni Dos Santos, Guillermo Franco and Andres Guardado.

It was Mexico’s first away win in the six-nation final round of qualifying, while Costa Rica lost for the first time at home and fell from first place to fourth.

Dos Santos’s long-range, left-footed blast put Mexico ahead in the 45th minute. Dos Santos also played a key role in Mexico’s other two goals. He brought the ball into the area and passed to Franco, who fired home in the 61st minute. He also delivered the ball to Guardado for a shot from short range in the 70th.

The victory gave Mexico 12 points, the same as Costa Rica but ahead on goal difference. They trail Honduras and the United States, both on 13 points.

In San Pedro Sula, Honduras pummelled Trinidad and Tobago 4-1, while the United States rallied to beat El Salvador 2-1 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Carlos Pavon in the 19th and 27th minutes, Amado Guevara in the 61st and David Sauzo in the 82nd scored for Honduras, while Kerry Baptiste scored in the 85th for Trinidad and Tobago.

In Utah, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore scored first-half goals to lift the United States to a 2-1 victory over El Salvador in Salt Lake City.

Christian Castillo had given El Salvador a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute with a header over US keeper Tim Howard.

But Dempsey equalized in the 41st when he headed in a free kick from Landon Donovan.

Donovan’s cross in first-half injury time also supplied Altidore, while Howard’s save of William Reyes’s point-blank shot in the 87th preserved the victory.

“The best part was the response when we went down,” US coach Bob Bradley said. “It’s never easy. You feel that pressure for a moment, but there was a real strong response from everybody on the field. That says a lot about what these guys are all about.”

The top three teams in the group advance directly to the World Cup finals in South Africa. The fourth-placed team plays off for a berth against the fifth-placed team from South America.

Saturday’s defeats left Trinidad and Tobago and El Salvador both on five points, and their hopes of qualifying all but extinguished.

Qualifying continues on Wednesday, when Mexico host Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago host the United States and El Salvador host Costa Rica.

“We’ve got three more tough games, but if we continue to get points we’re going to be all right,” Dempsey said.

SAN JOSE (AFP)

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