Josh Wolff’s goal in the 70th minute gave the United States a 1-0 win over Costa Rica for its third straight win in World Cup qualifying. Wolff scored on a tap-in after receiving the ball via Clint Mathis’ arm after his air duel with Tico defender Reynaldo Parks for Jeff Agoos’ cross into the box. “I don’t think it hit my hand,” Mathis said. “I don’t remember it. Any time the ball is in the box you do whatever you can to fight for it and get a touch on it and anything can happen. The ball just happened to bounce in our favor right to Josh, and he did well to tuck it away.” Kasey Keller preserved the shutout with saves on shots by Steven Bryce and Paulo Wanchope. The United States had almost all of the play until Wolff’s goal with Mathis having chance after chance. The Americans had to absorb all kinds of pressure in the last 20 minutes, unlike the Mexico and Honduras games when the U.S. controlled the end-game. The United States now has a five-point lead on the fourth-place team in the Hexagonal. The top three teams advance to the 2002 World Cup. April 25 in Kansas City USA 1 Costa Rica 0. Goal: Wolff 70. USA — Keller, Cherundolo, Llamosa, Agoos, Regis, Sanneh, Armas, Reyna (Berhalter, 90), Stewart, Mathis (Lewis, 81), Wolff (Razov, 71). Shots: 21. Saves: 6. Cks: 5. Fouls: 14. Offside: 1 COSTA RICA — Lonnis, Drummond, Parks, Martinez, Castro (Sunsing, 75), Cordero (Gomez, 79), Wallace, Fonseca, Bryce (Solis, 60), Wanchope, Medford. Shots: 10. Saves 3. Cks: 2. Fouls: 9. Offside 0. Attendance: 37,319: Referee: Jorge Luis Larrionda (Uruguay)