WINNERS:
LANDON DONOVAN took another step toward silencing those who believe he needs to play abroad to improve his game when he scored twice in the USA's 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Costa Rica. He also helped set up the third U.S. goal, by BRIAN McBRIDE. Donovan has notched at least a goal or an assist in 11 of the USA's 12 World Cup 2006 qualifying games.
MEXICO kept its one-point lead over the USA at the top of Hexagonal with a 2-0 win at Guatemala. Trinidad & Tobago, under new coach Leo Beenhakker of the Netherlands, notched its first final-round win with a 2-0 victory over Panama, the last-place team that the USA visits on Wednesday.
NATE JAQUA notched a hat trick as the CHICAGO FIRE came back from a 2-1 halftime deficit to down Chivas USA, 5-2. FC DALLAS' 2-0 win at Salt Lake pulls Dallas ahead of New England as this season's top team, with 24 points to 22 for New England, the league's only undefeated team. New England's 1-1 draw with Kansas City marked its third straight tie.
ROBINHO, 21, gave a sparkling performance for Brazil, which was without Ronaldo, in a 4-1 win over Paraguay in South American World Cup qualifying. The Santos attacker, who is coveted by Europe's top clubs, drew a penalty kick and notched Brazil's final goal. Second-place Brazil faces leader and archrival Argentina on Wednesday.
American Conor Casey's club MAINZ, which survived its first season in the Bundesliga and finished 11th, has been awarded a spot in next season's UEFA Cup after winning a draw among the top teams in UEFA's Fair Play rankings.
LOSERS:
American TIM HOWARD's quest to regain Manchester United's starting keeper spot looks more difficult in the wake of the club signing Dutch national team keeper Edwin van der Sar from Fulham.
SAN JOSE and D.C. UNITED treated San Jose's biggest crowd of the season (11,989) to a scoreless tie. The Earthquakes have notched just three goals in their last six outings. D.C. United has been shut out five times this season and is scoreless in its last two games.
ARGENTINA, hoping to clinch World Cup qualification ahead of Wednesday 's game against Brazil, fell, 2-0, to Ecuador, which had upset Brazil last November.