The United States captured the first of three CONCACAF berths for the 2005 U-17 World Championship with a 2-1 victory over host Costa Rica.
The Americans captured the Group A title to advance to their 11th straight U-17 World Championship, keeping the streak alive as the only country that has qualified for every championship at this age level.
Nik Besagno, the No. 1 pick in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, and 6-foot-5 Omar Gonzalez, a late addition to the U-17 program out of the Dallas Texans youth club, gave the Americans a 2-0 lead before they withstood a furious Tico rally. Cesar Elizondo Quesada tucked home a rebound from close range. Costa Rica applied heavy pressure in the final ten minutes of the match, but a lucky bounce off the post and a great save by Bryant Rueckner allowed the U.S. to escape with a victory.
April 16 in Heredia
Costa Rica 1 USA 2. Goals: Quesada 67; Besagno 11, Gonzalez 61.
Costa Rica — Quesada, Forbes, Paniagua, Chacon, Calvo (Carrillo, 37); Garcia, Cordero (Sandoval, 82), Solorzano (Quesada, 59), Borges, Guardia, Waston.
USA — Rueckner, Alston, Sarkodie, Lichaj, Wagner, Soroka, Besagno, Nakazawa (Ababio, 87), Hall (Subotic, 76), Zimmerman, Gonzalez (Borja, 77).
Referee: Lucinio Rodriguez (Honduras).