GOONERSGUIDE WORLD CUP NEWS SECTION

This is our World Cup news section where we provide any news items that might have a significant effect on the matches being played - or sports betting in general.

World Cup News :: Costa Rica 3-1 USA : Ticos go top of CONCACAF qualification standings

Posted on 2009-06-03 by Gooner

Alvaro Saborio scored after just 79 seconds as Costa Rica coasted to a 3-1 victory in San Jose on Wednesday night.

Celso Borges added a goal in the 13th minute, and Pablo Herrera sealed the victory for 41st-ranked Costa Rica when he made it 3-0 in the 69th.

Landon Donovan scored the U.S. goal when he converted a penalty kick in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.

The Ticos shredded the defense of the region's top-ranked team on the artificial turf of Saprissa Stadium, and the United States stumbled for the second straight time in Central America.

Costa Rica (3-1) leapfrogged into first place in the six-team regional finals of North and Central America and the Caribbean with nine points, two ahead of the United States (2-1-1).

Honduras (1-1-1) has four points, followed by Mexico (1-2) with three, and El Salvador (0-1-2) and Trinidad and Tobago (0-1-2) with two points each. The top three nations qualify for next year's World Cup in South Africa, and the No. 4 team meets the fifth-place team from South America in a playoff for another berth.

Still, the United States remains in good position to qualify for its sixth straight World Cup as long as it wins its remaining home matches, which include games against El Salvador (Sept. 5 at Sandy, Utah) and Costa Rica (Oct. 14 at Washington).

Sourced From : ESPN Soccernet

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