World Cup-bound US beat El Salvador 2-1

February 25, 2010

The United States, lacking its Europe-based best, rallied to beat El Salvador 2-1 in a friendly soccer match with goals from Brian Ching and Sacha Kljestan.

Ching scored with a diving header in the 74th minute and Kljestan put away the go-ahead goal in 90th-minute injury time to lift the World Cup-bound Americans to the victory over El Salvador on Wednesday.

Ching, a second half substitute, scored the equalizer from seven yards out after a cross from Heath Pearce that Salvadoran goalkeeper Miguel Montes misplayed.

Rudy Corrales’ 59th-minute strike had put El Salvador ahead, after a scoreless first half in chilly, rainy conditions at Raymond James stadium.

Ching, Kljestan and Pearce were among just a handful of players in the US squad who appear to have a real chance of being selected for the US squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa in June.

Ching was in the 2006 World Cup squad, but didn’t get into a match.

All but one of the Americans on the pitch Wednesday plays in Major League Soccer, with the European-based starters absent as they were for a 3-1 loss to Honduras on January 23.

For next Wednesday’s friendly the Netherlands in Amsterdam, the US team should more closely resemble the team that helped the United States book their place in a sixth straight World Cup.

That will be the last match before coach Bob Bradley names his 23-man squad for South Africa.

The players are to gather in mid-May and have friendlies against the Czech Republic (May 25) and Turkey (May 29 at Philadelphia) before departing for South Africa.

The Americans, who were ousted in the first round of the 2006 World Cup, launch their campaign June 12 against England. Six days later they play Slovenia, they close the first round against Algeria.

TAMPA, Florida (AFP)

Tags: bob bradley, brian ching, coach bob, czech republic, equalizer, Goalkeeper, heath pearce, injury time, last match, Major League Soccer, man squad, montes, rainy conditions, raymond james stadium, sacha kljestan, six days, straight world, tampa florida, world cup finals, world cup squad

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

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Tags: Andres Guardado, batres, berth, Carlos Batres, Carlos Vela, Costa Rica, crossbar, cuauhtemoc blanco, El Salvador, el tri, flying insects, four points, Gonzalez, guatemalan, Guillermo Franco, injury time, julio martinez, Marvin Gonzalez, Mexico, mexico city, Miguel Montes, misdirected, montes, Paco Palencia, ricardo osorio, South Africa, South America, straight world, swarm, tallies, world cup field

USA survives El Salvador 2-1

September 6, 2009

SANDY, Utah – Jozy Altidore powered home a left-sided service by Landon Donovan in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, lifting the United States to a 2-1 win against El Salvador in a World Cup qualifier at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday night.

The win pushed the Americans temporarily atop the group in the final hexagonal stage with 13 points, one in front of Costa Rica, which were to play Mexico at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa later Saturday night.

Meanwhile, El Salvador’s World Cup dreams are all but dashed, with La Selecta Cuscatleca sitting at the bottom of the group with Trinidad & Tobago, with five points from seven matches.

Altidore latched onto Landon Donovan’s cross and headed it past El Salvador goalkeeper Miguel Montes in what proved to be the final moment of the first half. El Salvador coach Carlos de los Cobos argued with the Honduran officials before leaving the field for halftime about the length of the stoppage time.

The Hull striker appeared to add an insurance goal in the 58th minute, slipping Clint Dempsey’s through ball past Montes. The goal was waved off for a reason that was not immediately clear.

The United States rallied from an early deficit to equalize in the 41st minute as Dempsey made up for a flubbed open header two minutes earlier. The Fulham midfielder, who was wide open because the El Salvador defense pushed up in an attempt to catch the United States offside, headed Donovan’s cross inside the near post.

The goal came one minute after Charlie Davies had his shot cleared off the line by a Salvadorian defender.

Against the run of play, El Salvador capitalized on an American defensive miscue to take a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute on a header by Christian Castillo.

Rodolfo Zelaya collected a soft clearance by Jonathan Bornstein and sent the ball into the box where Castillo caught goalkeeper Tim Howard off his line to score from 13 meters.

El Salvador nearly took a two-goal lead off a second defensive gaffe, this one a poor pass by Jonathan Spector two minutes later. But Howard saved Eliseo Quintanilla’s deflected shot at the near post.

The United States were the more dangerous team in the opening half hour, but the Americans were unable to put the ball past Montes. Their first chance came in the ninth minute, but Donovan’s free kick caromed off the wall.

In the 28th minute, Davies took on defender Ramon Flores and cut a perfect ball back to the penalty spot, however Dempsey missed the target with his first-time attempt.

Two minutes later, Carlos Bocanegra flicked Donovan’s perfectly weighted free kick wide of the net.

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Tags: Carlos, carlos bocanegra, carlos de los cobos, Charlie Davies, Christian Castillo, Clint Dempsey, Costa Rica, cup dreams, El Salvador, estadio ricardo saprissa, five points, fulham, Goalkeeper, honduran officials, Howard, insurance goal, jonathan bornstein, jonathan spector, la selecta, landon donovan, Mexico, Miguel Montes, miscue, montes, offside, ramon flores, Ricardo Saprissa, Rio, rio tinto, Rodolfo Zelaya, sandy utah, stoppage time, tim howard, Tobago, Trinidad, United States, USA, Utah, world cup qualifier

Cummings goal gives Jamaica 1-0 win over El Salvador

July 11, 2009

MIAMI – Omar Cummings scored with a flick of his right foot in the 70th minute and Jamaica beat El Salvador 1-0 Friday to keep alive its hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The result clinched a berth in the final eight for Costa Rica, and left Jamaica third in the group with three points ahead of El Salvador, which was eliminated. Two teams from each of the three groups advance along with the two best third-place teams.

The Caribbean champion will have to wait for the results of the other two groups Saturday and Sunday to see if it advances.

Canada finished atop the group with seven points, three ahead Costa Rica. Jamaica finished ahead of El Salvador due to Friday’s victory.

Neither side created much in the game, generating only a handful of chances each in the finale of Group A.

Jamaica started with a bit more possession, but both sides seemed mired in a midfield battle on the artificial turf at FIU Stadium.

Cummings had probably what was the best chance for either team before the goal, working free near the top of the penalty area before unleashing a right-footed shot that Salvadoran goalkeeper Miguel Montes had to stretch to tip it wide of the far post.

Jamaica went ahead when Luton Shelton created space on the left, turned and curled a low, bouncing cross to the near post, where Cummings had worked inside Alexander Escobar and just managed to redirect the ball between Montes and the upright.

El Salvador, which would have advanced with a draw, had its lst chance in the third minute of injury time when Montes’ free kick from 19 yards struck the left post.

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Tags: A., Alexander Escobar, berth, Canada, Caribbean, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, concacaf gold cup, Costa Rica, cummings, El Salvador, far post, FIU Stadium, flick, free kick, Goalkeeper, handful, injury time, Jamaica, Luton, luton shelton, Miami, midfield battle, Miguel Montes, montes, Omar Cummings, quarterfinals, right foot, saturday and sunday, seven points

Pavon lifts Honduras over Central American rival El Salvador 1-0

June 11, 2009

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — A first-half strike by Honduras midfielder Carlos Pavon gave the Los Catrachos a 1-0 victory over El Salvador on Wednesday night and leaving them in CONCACAF’s last guaranteed place for next year’s World Cup as the “hexagonal” reached its midpoint.

The win moved Honduras ahead of the visiting Cuscatlecos into third place with seven points from five matches, one ahead of Mexico and two better than El Salvador, which slumped to fifth.

Pavon, who plays with Mexican Primera League club Necaxa, pounced on a rebound in front of El Salvador goalkeeper Miguel Montes in the 15th minute.

Honduras captain Amado Guevara took the initial shot from the top of the penalty area, forcing Montes into a save but giving up a rebound that fell to Pavon.

The match was very physical with U.S. referee Baldomero Toledo handing out seven yellow cards, four to Honduras and three to El Salvador, and five cautions coming in the opening half.

Most of El Salvador’s chances were limited to shots from distance and crosses from the penalty area which rarely tested Honduras keeper Noel Valladares or backline while Honduras enjoyed the majority of the possession.

Honduras began the second half with a lengthy possession spell, but El Salvador absorbed the pressure and a dangerous chance from Ramon Nunez, who broke into the penalty area and sent a shot just wide in the 57th minute.

In the 67th minute, Pavon nearly set up a second goal for Honduras. He darted into the penalty area and spun a hard shot in front of Montes, while onrushing midfielder Julio Cesar De Leon couldn’t get his foot to the ball in front of a wide open goal.

Guevara nearly had a chance to add an insurance goal in injury as he sprinted the length of the field but his shot from the top of the penalty are lofted well over the bar just seconds before the final whistle.

Ahead of the opening kick off Honduras’ Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda indicated that his side was taking a must-win approach to the match after their loss to the United States, and El Salvador’s upset of Mexico over the weekend.

El Salvador plays their next match in the qualifying round on August 12 when they travel to Trinidad and Tobago while Honduras faces Costa Rica at home in San Pedro Sula.

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Late penalty lifts El Salvdor 2-1, extends Mexico’s woes

June 7, 2009

SAN SALVADOR – A dramatic penalty kick with four minutes remaining by Eliseo Quintanilla lifted El Salvador to an emotional 2-1 win against Mexico at Estadio Cuscatlan Saturday night.

Quintanilla struck from the spot after Mexican defender Oscar Rojas blocked Julio Martinez’s cross while sliding near the end line.

Costa Rican referee Walter Quesada didn’t hesitate to point to the penalty spot where Quintanilla beat Oscar Perez to the goalkeeper’s right, sending a packed Estadio Cuscatlan into a frenzy.

Quintanilla’s penalty came after one from Cuauhtémoc Blanco, who made his return to the Mexican national team by entering as a halftime substitute to score the equalizer in the 71st minute.

El Salvador, which entered the day tied with Trinidad & Tobago in last place in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, moved into third place in the “hexagonal” ahead of both Honduras and Mexico. Despite Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre’s return as head coach, El Tri, meanwhile, continued to struggle. The result left the Mexicans with just one win in their last seven matches and sit in fifth place, one point in front of the Soca Warriors.

Not only did Martinez set up the winning goal, he also scored the first in the 11th minute. Rodolfo Zelaya started the play by dribbling past Ricardo Osorio and Gerardo Torrado near the corner flag and cut inside of the 18-yard box.

His first attempt was blocked, but as his teammates shouted for a handball, Martinez took a touch with his left foot and fired the ball with his right from 14 yards past Perez.

Mexico had the best of the early chances with Andres Guardardo getting on the end of Fernando Arce’s cross, but his header was saved by El Salvadorian goalkeeper Miguel Montes, who dived to his right to make the save in the fifth minute.

Three minutes later, Guardardo tried to chip Montes from the right edge of the box, but his attempt was well wide of the target.

After Martinez gave El Salvador the lead, Arce nearly equalized for El Tri in the 25th minute, catching Montes, who was expecting a cross, off guard. But Montes recovered in time to get a piece of the shot.

Two minutes later, Perez came off his line to challenge Alfredo Pacheco’s cross, spilling it inside the box. Martinez pounced on the ball, but he pushed the ball just wide of the far post.

Moments later Pacheco exchanged blows with Guillermo Franco as the two jockeyed for position on a corner kick. The incident went undetected by Quesada, and Pacheco got the worst of it, needing to have his forehead wrapped to treat a cut.

Blanco came on at the half and struck for the dramatic equalizer after Manuel Sanchez hauled down Franco in the box. El Temo had seemingly saved Mexico once again, but Quintanilla’s penalty in the 86th minute proved to be the difference for El Salvador, which survived a scare moments later when Blanco’s second apparent equalizer was ruled offside by the linesman.

Mexico returns home to face Trinidad & Tobago Wednesday night at Estadio Azteca, while El Salvador heads to San Pedro Sula to take on Honduras on Wednesday.

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