- October, 14 2009 -
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WASHINGTON – Jonathan Bornstein scored with a header 4½ minutes into injury time to give the United States a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica on Wednesday and deny the Ticos a third straight trip to the World Cup.
The goal capped a U.S. rally from a two-goal first-half deficit, with the Americans getting a pair of goals in the final 18 minutes.
The result finished the United States atop the “hexagonal” with 20 points, one ahead of Mexico.
Costa Rica seemed headed for South Africa after Bryan Ruiz scored two goals three minutes apart midway through the first half. But the U.S. rally left Costa Rica with 16 points, same as Honduras but behind on goal difference. Honduras beat El Salvador 1-0 in its game Wednesday night to earn only its second World Cup appearance and first since 1982.
The Ticos have another chance to qualify, advancing to a two-leg playoff against Uruguay, the fifth-placed finisher from South America, November 11 and November 14 for the final berth in the 32-team field in South Africa.
The draw was the United States’ only tie in nine home games in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, having won the previous eight. The Americans were playing 36 hours after learning that teammate Charlies Davies was badly injured in an early Tuesday morning one-car automobile accident in the Washington area in which another person died.
Davies, who suffered facial, leg and elbow fractures and a lacerated bladder, had several hours of surgery Tuesday and was hospitalized in serious but stable condition, U.S. team spokesman Michael Kammarman said. Some teammates wore undershirts with Davies’ name and banners could be seen around the stadium bearing his likeness.
Ruiz scored in the 21st and 24th minutes, with the goals coming against the run of play. Needing a victory to assure itself of a World Cup berth, Costa Rica started with three defenders and five in the midfield, pushing Pablo Herrera up from his right back spot.
Michael Bradley pulled the United States within a goal in the 72nd and Bornstein shed his marker to nod Robbie Rogers’ corner from just outside the six-yard box.
The United States had the better possession early and the first serious chance on a counter when Conor Casey, who scored two in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Honduras that qualified the Americans for the World Cup, shot high despite being unmarked in the ninth minute.
Walter Centeno forced U.S. keeper Tim Howard into a reaction save two minutes later, volleying a looping cross to the right post.
Ruiz put Costa Rica ahead, taking a ball from Michael Barrantes on the left side of the area, turning defender Oguchi Onyewu to get to the byline and then drilling a shot that Howard was able to deflect but not stop.
Three minutes later, Ruiz took his throw-in back from Walter Centeno, took a touch toward the penalty area and then unleashed a swirling left-footer that curled around a stretched Howard into the far-side netting. It was his fifth goal of qualifying, one behind team leader Alvaro Saborio.
With the lead seemingly secure, Herrera dropped back into a more convention 4-4-2 and the United States again dominated possession, but was plagued by poor finishing. Landon Donovan shot high twice and had a weak effort in the 44th with only goalkeeper Keilor Navas, who also thwarted Jozy Altidore a minute later when the American forward’s marker had fallen in the area.
Navas repeatedly raced off his line to punch balls out of danger, defusing several dangerous situations.
The Americans dominated possession in the second half as well and finally converted on a rebound. Donovan settled a flicked on cross and got off a right-footed shot from inside the top of the area that Navas blocked, but couldn’t hold. Bradley banged into the net with a right-footed swipe.
The United States’ chances seemed doomed when Onyewu was carried off after tearing a tendon in his left knee in the 83rd minute, reducing his team to 10 men with manager Bob Bradley having already used his three substitutions.
But the Americans continued to generate chances and hurriedly took a corner that saw Bornstein slip through a crowd and head Rogers’ corner off the right post.
The wild finish was preceded with Costa Rica manager Rene Simoes being ejected in the 89th minute, berating fourth official Haro Delgadillo for what appeared a dispute over a substitution.
Source: concacaf.com
