USA Qualifying Update: Costa Rica 2 USA 1 (Halftime)

After a fast-paced first half, Costa Rica leads the U.S. 2-1 in their World Cup qualifier in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The Ticos opened the game with an energetic assault on the U.S. half of the field, and in the 10th minute, Hernan Medford ran onto a through ball that split Eddie Pope and Alexi Lalas. Medford sped along the right edge of the box and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that ended Kasey Keller’s shutout streak.

The U.S. rallied, however, and in the 24th minute, John Harkes lofted a pass from the right flank that Eric Wynalda ran onto as he headed from the top of the box towards the left corner of the area. Wynalda then turned in along the edge of the area, and doubled back past a Costa Rican defender. Wynalda turned down towards the middle of the area and cracked a perfectly-placed shot into the far corner of the net to tie the game.

Costa Rica regained the lead seven minutes later. The Ticos were awarded a free kick outside the right corner of the box. The kick was a lateral pass to Mauricio Solis, who hit a thunderous right-footed shot from just outside the top of the box into the upper-left corner of the net.

Tony Sanneh and Eric Wynalda have been booked for the U.S.

Here are the lineups that started the match:

Costa Rica — Barrantes, Wallace, Marin, Gonzales, Berry, Mayorga, Solis, Lopez, Gomez, Wanchope, Medford.

USA — Keller, Agoos, Lalas, Pope, Dooley, Harkes, Sanneh, Reyna, Jones, Wagner, Wynalda.

The referee is Mario Escobar of Guatemala.