- September, 05 2009 -
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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.
Source: concacaf.com
