The USA continues to lead Costa Rica 1-0 at halftime of their World Cup qualifying match. Brian McBride scored in the 17th minute after Claudio Reyna’s pass freed Ernie Stewart on the right wing, and his cross was touched by two Costa Rican defenders into the path of McBride.
The U.S. has had several other scoring chances — Roy Lassiter beat the Costa Rican offside trap, but shot straight at the keeper Barrantes. Alexi Lalas boomed a header off a corner kick in the 42nd minute, but again, the ball was struck right at Barrantes.
There was a moment of controversy in the 34th minute, when Brad Friedel appeared to handle the ball outside of the box in thwarting a long pass intended for the speedy Hernan Medfor, who had beaten the U.S. defense. Mexican referee Francisco Borja originally showed Friedel the red card, but after conferring with one of his assistants, Borja rescinded the red and issued a yellow, ruling that Friedel’s momentum had carried him over the 18-yard line.
Roy Lassiter received a yellow card for kicking the ball after being whistled offside (the second time he’d done this in the half), and John Harkes was booked in the 43rd minute after a hard tackle on Paulo Wanchope.
Costa Rica’s Jaffet Soto was also booked, in the 45th minute.