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

Tags: aguirre, berth, bold prediction, capacity crowd, Carlos Pavon, Central American, COLUMBUS, concacaf, conor casey, El Salvador, estadio azteca, Honduras, hottest team, international coach, Javier Aguirre, jonathan bornstein, mexicans, Mexico, mexico and the united states, michael lewis, Montevideo, new direction, Ohio, penalty kick, San Jose, san pedro sula, scoreless streak, South Africa, South America, South Americans, straight trip, Sven Goran Eriksson, uruguay, vitality, Washington, World Cup, world cups

2009: U-17 year ends on missed penalty for Mexico

December 18, 2009

It was a moment Carlos Campos will want to forget.

It was November 5 when the Mexican midfielder couldn’t convert a penalty kick in a shootout against South Korea in the Round-of-16 of the Under-17 World Cup.

South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jin-long dove to his left, blocking Campos shot.

Mexico was eliminated and perhaps embarrassed.

Coach Jose Luis Gonzalez squad appeared headed to the quarterfinals, leading 1-0 approaching injury time. But a South Korean goal two minutes into added time forced extra time – and eventually penalties.

“It hurts to lose, because the guys left it all on the pitch,” Gonzalez said. “It’s sad to lose this way but that’s soccer. We have to leave with a sense of accomplishment, with our heads held high because the Mexican national team in this game and throughout this tournament left everything on the pitch.”

And it left a dramatic finish. And with all the drama went the final remaining team representing CONCACAF in the World Cup.

The United States had been eliminated the day before with a 2-1 loss to Italy.

Costa Rica and Honduras didn’t reach the knockout stage, both finishing last in their respective groups.

Just like Mexico’s finish, there was plenty of drama in 2009 for CONCACAF U-17 teams.

Besides Mexico’s loss to South Korea, the Americans equalized with Italy early in the second half in their second-round match, giving hope that coach Wilmer Cabrera’s squad would accomplish an upset. But the U.S. euphoria lasted only five minutes, when the Italians reclaimed the lead and won 2-1.

Then there was the cancellation of the semifinals and finals of the CONCACAF championship in the border town of Tijuana, Mexico, due to the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu.

Mexico and the United States were on a path to meet in the title match and set up a showdown in front of a chaotic crowd at Estadio Caliente.

It is anybody’s guess what could have transpired if the long-time rival countries met. Fans wanted to see U.S. striker Jack McInerney, who led the tournament with five goals in three games, take on a Mexican defense that shutout all three of its group rivals, outscoring them 11-0.

Instead, Mexico, the U.S., Costa Rica and Honduras sealed their tickets to the World Cup having already reached the semifinals.

Both Honduras and Costa Rica finished 1-1-1 in their groups with wins against Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago respectively.

Both Central American nations hoped for similar success at the World Cup.

Bur Costa Rica finished 0-1-2 with its only point coming in a 1-1 draw against New Zealand.

Honduras lost all three of its group matches against Argentina, Germany and host Nigeria, scoring only one goal.

The United States reached the second round of a U-17 World Cup for the fourth-straight time, overcoming an opening 2-1 loss to Spain with a pair of 1-0 victories over Malawi and the United Arab Emirates.

The Americans failed to capitalize on a Spanish side that played with a man down for the last 88 minutes and costing them a second-round match against Burkina Faso.

Mexico, the 2005 World Cup champion, also couldn’t exploit its advantages, failing to close out South Korea with the victory seemingly at hand.

Gonzalez’s team went 2-1 in the group stage, like the United States, overcoming an opening 2-0 loss to eventual 2009 champion Switzerland to beat Brazil and Japan.

But penalty kicks doomed it.

“There are no excuses,” Gonzalez said. “It was Korea’s turn to win. I felt it was a great game from both sides, and we simply were the ones to lose.”

Maybe Mexico’s fortune will be different in the next U-17 World Cup. After all, they are hosting the tournament in 2011.

By Ivan Orozco

Tags: added time, Carlos Campos, concacaf championship, euphoria, Goalkeeper, injury time, italians, jose luis gonzalez, knockout stage, mexico and the united states, penalty kick, quarterfinals, rival countries, south korea, south korean, swine flu, tijuana mexico, time rival, wilmer

Tottenham wary of Wolves trap

December 12, 2009

Harry Redknapp knows Tottenham Hotspur are unlikely to match their last home performance but is equally aware anything less than a win over Wolves will be regarded as a failure.

Spurs produced their most emphatic display for years when they thrashed Wigan 9-1 at White Hart Lane last month.

That bolstered the growing belief this can be the season when they at last break into the ‘closed shop’ that is the Premier League’s top four and claim a place in next season’s Champions League.

Consistency, however, is the key to that ambition being realised and manager Redknapp knows three points against Mick McCarthy’s side on Saturday are vital if they are to succeed in that aim.

Redknapp though will also be aware that an encounter against a newly-promoted side does not guarantee three points, as last season Hull were fresh to the top-flight when they recorded a 1-0 win in north London.

This time around Spurs are in far better shape as they welcome one of the Premier League’s lesser lights, and the significance of maintaining good form ahead of Christmas is not lost on the manager.

“The four clubs (Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool) have had a monopoly on the top four places, and to get in there is hard,” Redknapp admitted.

“But we have got a chance. If we sit here and say we will never get there, then we never will.”

Last weekend Tottenham led Everton by two goals at Goodison Park, but threw away the lead and travelled home with just the one point.

It would have been a different story if England international striker Jermain Defoe had netted a late penalty kick, but his effort was kept out by United States goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The miss was a rare blot on Defoe’s record from this term, as he is the division’s top scorer with 12 goals, including five against Wigan.

“It’s part and parcel of football and you have to be brave to step up and take a penalty at that stage,” explained Tottenham assistant manager Kevin Bond. “Players are going to miss them occasionally and it happens to the best.

“You can’t worry about it and you have to move on.

“Jermain’s got a terrific goalscoring record, he’s scored some goals that maybe he should never have scored and he’s just got to move on. I’m sure he’ll do that.”

The last time these sides met at White Hart Lane was in December 2003, when Spurs ran out 5-2 winners.

It is not the only statistic that does not make pleasurable reading for Wolves supporters, as the club have also recorded only four victories from 42 visits to Tottenham.

Nevertheless, manager McCarthy has found a cause for optimism in the way Stoke City won at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.

“If you play and attack like they do then you will leave holes at the back,” McCarthy, whose side are in the relegation zone, said.

“So then it’s whether you can exploit them or not.

“Stoke beat them at White Hart Lane but they got absolutely ‘mullered’. James Beattie hooked one off the line from under the bar and so did someone else.

“That result struck me as a real travesty, but they beat them and that’s what it says in the record books.”

Tottenham midfielder Wilson Palacios has a rib injury, while Croatia playmaker Luka Modric lacks match fitness as he edges towards a long awaited return from a fractured fibula.

Michael Kightly, the Wolves midfielder, misses the trip from the Midlands with an ankle injury while striker Chris Iwelumo is also set to be sidelined as he has still to recover fully from a broken foot.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: arsenal, champions league, chelsea arsenal, chris iwelumo, croatia, different story, England, england international, Goalkeeper, Goodison Park, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, home performance, HULL, James Beattie, jermain defoe, Kevin Bond, manchester united, Michael Kightly, mick mccarthy, Midlands, north London, penalty kick, premier league, Stoke City, striker, tim howard, top flight, top scorer, tottenham hotspur, United States, white hart lane, wolves

Toluca earns fourth Mexican spot in CCL quarters

October 21, 2009

A second-half penalty kick by Israel Lopez forged a 1-1 draw for Toluca against D.C. United on Tuesday and clinched the Mexican squad’s berth in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals at Estadio Nemesio Diez.

Los Diablos join fellow Mexican sides Cruz Azul, Pachuca and Pumas in the knockout stage, as well as the Columbus Crew. Meanwhile, D.C. United, which became the second Major League Soccer team to earn a point on Mexican soil, will have to wait for Thursday’s Group B finale between Marathon and San Juan Jabloteh in Trinidad to know if it will advance.

Marathon needs a victory to advance, or D.C. will claim the second berth from Group B.

D.C. United jumped in front six minutes after the opening kickoff on Chris Pontius’ second goal of the Group Stage. Luciano Emilio latched onto a long punt from goalkeeper Steve Cronin and, after one bounce, headed back to Pontius. The rookie took the ball off his chest and unleashed a blast inside the near post.

For a while it appeared Los Diablos wouldn’t solve D.C. goalkeeper Steve Cronin, who was pressed into action early and often.
In the 37th minute, the recently acquired keeper dived to his right to snare Issac Brizuela’s low, hard shot from distance and in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Raul Nava headed Brizuela’s cross off the crossbar.

Toluca equalizeD in the 62nd minute after Trinidadian referee Geoffrey Hospedales pointed to the spot for a clumsy challenge by Lawson Vaughn that sent Lopez tumbling to the ground near the end line.

Lopez, who came on for Vladimir Marin just three minutes earlier, put a low shot past Cronin, who dived to his left in vain.
Two minutes later, the visitors had their best chance to regain the lead, but Devon McTavish’s diving header from 10 meters was wide of the net.

Toluca was safe to advance with a draw, but the hosts still pressed for the winning goal. Diego De La Torre’s bouncing shot in the 66th minute was wide to Cronin’s left and then Cronin came up with a diving save at the edge of the six-yard box on Nava in the 73rd minute.

Toluca completed the group stage with a 4-1-1 record atop Group B with 13 points. D.C. United was next with 10 points, one better than Marathon. But while Toluca is through, D.C. United must wait until Thursday to learn its fate.

TOLUCA, Mexico

Tags: B. D.C. United, brizuela, champions league quarterfinals, columbus crew, concacaf champions league, cruz azul pachuca, Devon, devon mctavish, Diego De La, diego de la torre, estadio nemesio diez, Geoffrey Hospedales, israel, knockout stage, Lawson Vaughn, luciano emilio, Major League Soccer, marathon, Mexico, nemesio, Nemesio Diez, penalty kick, Raul Nava, san juan, san juan jabloteh, steve cronin, stoppage time, Toluca, Trinidad, Vladimir Marin

Besiktas earn second win in a row

October 18, 2009

Defending Turkish champions Besiktas looked to have bounced back from a bad season start, with a 2-1 win over Kasimpasa on Saturday.

Two weeks after achieving what was only their second victory of the season, Besiktas added another three points in Saturday’s home match, with an opening goal from Nihat Kahveci in the eighth minute. Bobo made it 2-0 thirty minutes later.

Kasimpasa scored back in the 88th minute, as Andr Moritz converted a penalty kick, but Besiktas held on to their lead for a 2-1 victory.

League leaders Fenerbahce defend their top spot at Gaziantepspor on Sunday, while local rivals Galatasaray host Trabzonspor in Istanbul.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: andr, bobo, eighth minute, fenerbahce, galatasaray, gaziantepspor, home match, Istanbul, jonathan, Kahveci, Kasimpasa, League, league leaders, moritz, penalty kick, rivals, Sunday, trabzonspor, victory, win

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

Tags: arch nemesis, bob bradley, bragging rights, car accident, Carlos Pavon, catrachos, coach bob, early tuesday, jonathan bornstein, mentality, penalty kick, port of spain, redemption, stoppage time, straight time, tuesday morning, two games, World Cup

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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Tags: Alexander Escobar, Arturo Alvarez, Carlos Pavon, Christian Castillo, concacaf, Costa Rica, David Suazo, El Salvador, eliseo quintanilla, equalizer, first chance, goal difference, Goalkeeper, Honduras, injury time, Julio de Leon, midfielder, minute goal, noel, Noel Valladares, Osman Chavez, penalty kick, Salvador, San Salvador, second time, South Africa, straight time, top, United States, valladares, veteran striker, Washington, World Cup

Goal machine Ronaldo seals another Real victory

October 1, 2009

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo made it nine goals in seven games by bagging a brace as Real Madrid’s ‘Galacticos’ defeated 10-man Marseille 3-0 on Tuesday in their first Champions League match in front of their Santiago Bernabeu crowd.

It means Real have now won all seven of their matches this season, two in the Champions League and five in the league, and sit top of Group C with a maximum six points.

Real blitzed Marseille with three goals in six minutes; Ronaldo, who now has four Champions League goals in two games, scored two and won the penalty that led to the other.

“Cristiano is a player that can make a difference at any moment and is always capable of scoring a goal,” said stand-in captain Guti.

“We want to try and get through this group as soon as possible by winning it. For now we have a big league game on Sunday against Sevilla who are on a roll but then so are we.”

Marquee summer signing Ronaldo opened the scoring on 58 minutes and then won a spot-kick three minutes later which saw Marseille centre-back Souleymane Diawara dismissed for a second yellow card.

Kaka converted the penalty kick and Ronaldo struck again in the 64th minute to show why Real paid a world record 94 million euros for his services.

Ronaldo went off shortly after his second goal with a knock to his right ankle which makes him a doubt for Sunday’s match with Sevilla.

AC Milan’s shock 1-0 defeat at home to FC Zurich gives Real a three-point lead in the group and Madrid now have a double-header against Milan starting at home on October 21.

“We are scoring goals and not conceding them, which is always good,” said Xabi Alonso. “We have two games against Milan now which will test us. The first game is at home so we have to make that advantage count.”

Captain Raul, the all-time top-scorer in the Champions League, had to be content with a place on the substitutes’ bench as new French star Karim Benzema started against his compatriots.

Ronaldo and Kaka joined Benzema in an attacking trident with Xabi Alonso and Fernando Gago employed in defensive midfield.

There were familiar faces to the Real fans in the Marseille line-up as Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze and veteran striker Fernando Morientes returned to their old stomping ground.

Heinze spent two seasons at the club before being let go by incoming coach Manuel Pellegrini in the summer while Morientes won three Champions League titles with Real and was given a warm welcome from the home fans.

Off the pitch there was a beefed-up police presence, after Marseille’s last visit to Madrid saw them clash with baton-wielding riot police at the Vicente Calderon during a group match with Atletico Madrid.

There was no repeat of those ugly scenes, though, and the match took centre stage although it was a low-key opening from Real, who only had a half-chance from Sergio Ramos to show from the first 20 minutes.

Marseille, fourth in their domestic league, had a chance of their own on the quarter-hour mark but Iker Casillas was on his toes and raced out to swipe the ball from visiting captain Mamadou Niang.

On 26 minutes the Senegalese star skipped past Pepe but had to shoot from an acute angle and Casillas was on hand again to save with his chest.

It was a warning that appeared to spur Real into action and Benzema went agonisingly close twice.

First of all the ex-Lyon striker saw a brilliant overhead kick go just over and was then thwarted in a one-on-one by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

In the second half Real found their stride and took the lead through a route-one goal, with Pepe’s long ball finding Ronaldo who carefully placed a low shot beneath the advancing Mandanda.

The former Manchester United man then drew a foul from Diawara which earned the defender a second yellow card and allowed Kaka to put Real 2-0 up with a confidently taken penalty.

Ronaldo continued his rich vein of form in front of goal with an easy tap-in to wrap up the game after slick inter-play between Benzema and Kaka.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, alon, compatriots, cristiano ronaldo, double header, fc zurich, first game, french star, galacticos, Karim Benzema, league game, league goals, penalty kick, real madrid, santiago bernabeu, scoring goals, seven games, top scorer, xabi alonso, yellow card

Late goal keeps Saprissa alive, denies Columbus

September 30, 2009

Alexander Robinson headed in a dramatic equalizer in second-half stoppage time and Deportivo Saprissa drew 1-1 with Columbus Tuesday night, keeping alive the Costa Rican club’s hopes of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.

The late goal denied the Crew of a place in the quarterfinals, sending Group C to the final match day on October 20.

Robbie Rogers converted a first-half penalty kick to give the defending MLS Cup champions the lead and until Robinson’s goal, a berth in the knockout round. Two points ahead of Saprissa, Columbus still has the advantage.

Having won 1-0 at Saprissa two weeks ago, Columbus will need only a draw in its final game at the Puerto Rico Islanders to advance, while Saprissa will need to win at home against Cruz Azul and hope Puerto Rico can beat Columbus.

The Crew attacked from the outset and led after Walter Centeno slid over the ball and caught Guillermo Barros Schelotto with a tackle in the box in the 24th minute.

Centeno was cautioned for the rash challenge and Schelotto was sent to the sideline because of a bloody shin. The Argentine legend attempted to return to take the penalty, but was forced to remain off the field. Instead it was Rogers, the young American international, who stepped to the spot, slotting his low attempt to Keilor Navas’ right in the 27th minute.

Moments later, Emmanuel Ekpo made a spectacular darting run, but both Rogers and Alejandro Moreno had their attempts blocked.
Saprissa nearly equalized in the 34th minute as Kendall Watson got in behind the Crew defense and latched onto Centeno’s free kick just inside the six-yard box. But Watson could only get a touch on the ball and it rolled wide of the net.

Just before the half, Rogers played a deep cross to the back post, but Schelotto and Moreno both went for the ball and Schelotto’s header sailed wide of the net.

Ekpo made another dangerous run and forced Navas to make a kick save. The Nigerian forward collected the rebound, but headed wide of the net in the 57th minute.

Both teams appealed for penalties in the final 21 minutes as Moreno went down in the box in the 69th minute and Saprissa sought a handball call on Columbus defender Gino Padula, who cleared Watson’s header off the line in the 76th minute.

Just moments from being eliminated, Saprissa found the elusive equalizer in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. Robinson got onto the end of Centeno’s free kick and his downward header from the edge of the six-yard box went through Columbus goalkeeper Will Hesmer’s legs to give El Monstruo Morado a share of the points.

COLUMBUS

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Tags: alejandro moreno, alexander robinson, Argentine, berth, COLUMBUS, concacaf champions league, cruz azul, deportivo saprissa, Emmanuel Ekpo, final game, final match, free kick, Guillermo Barros, guillermo barros schelotto, knockout, match day, mls cup champions, outset, penalty kick, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, Robbie Rogers, Robinson, rogers, sideline, stoppage time, Walter Centeno, watson

D.C. United ends skid with 1-0 victory over Jabloteh

September 16, 2009

Christian Gomez’s first-half penalty kick lifted D.C. United to a 1-0 victory against San Juan Jabloteh in a CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage match at Hasley Crawford Stadium in Trinidad Tuesday night.

It was D.C. United’s first-ever CONCACAF Champions League group stage victory and one that keeps the Major League Soccer team alive in the competition. Winless Jabloteh is all but eliminated from advancing out of Group B.

Gomez stepped to the spot after referee Trevor Taylor ruled Noel Williams handled a cross in the box when he slid and tackled the ball away from Luciano Emilio. After a slight hesitation, Gomez beat Jabloteh goalkeeper Cleon John low and to the right of the keeper to give D.C. United a 1-0 lead in the 14 minutes.

Williams attempted to atone for his mistake, but his shot from distance sailed wide to D.C. United goalkeeper Milos Kocic’s right in the 21st minute.

Four minutes later, Kocic came up big, making three saves at the near post, twice denying Lester Peltier. Moments later, Ataulla Guerra’s attempt from 16 meters skipped wide of the far post for the hosts.

Off a D.C. United giveaway in the midfield, San Juan Jabloteh’s Jason Marcano lobbed the ball at the open net after Kocic came off his line, but Julius James tracked back and cleared the ball off the line in the 42nd minute.

Peltier was played behind the D.C. defense on the hour mark, but his left-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box sailed over the crossbar.

Emilio nearly added to United’s lead, hitting a low, hard shot from distance in the 64th minute that eluded a diving John but was just wide of the far post.

Twice midway through the second half, Jabloteh had open headers in the box, but Devon Jamerson and Jerrel Britto both missed the target with their attempts five minutes apart.

With a quarter hour remaining, Jabloteh was given a chance to equalize when Taylor apparently ruled Kocic violated the six-second rule, but Williams badly mis-hit his attempt from the top of the 18-yard box.

One minute later, Devon McTavish played a great ball inside the area that Gomez latched onto, but John bobbled the shot before it was cleared away for the game’s first corner kick.

In the 83rd minute, Gomez played the ball over the top to Danny Szetela, who was unable to get off a shot.
Peltier had Jabloteh’s final chance to equalize in the 87th minute when he took James’ bad touch and raced inside the box. But James recovered nicely and blocked the attempt with a sliding tackle.

Both teams resume group play next week, with D.C. United hosting co-leader Marathon at RFK Stadium on Thursday, while Jabloteh will head to Mexico to take on Toluca the day before.

PORT-of-SPAIN

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