Once again, Costa Rica qualified for the World Cup finals by beating the USA in Saprissa Stadium.
Four years ago, it was 2-0. This time, it was 3-0 – the worst defeat during Bruce ArenaÆs eight-year reign as national team coach and the worst in World Cup qualifying in almost 25 years.
Paulo Wanchope scored his 43rd goal for the Ticos, setting a new national team record, and Carlos Hernandez added two well-taken goals in the second half.
For the Americans, Taylor Twellman had a goal called back for offside and had a header cleared off the line.
The USA and Mexico have already qualified for the World Cup. Mexico, a 5-2 winner over Guatemala thanks to four goals by Francisco Fonseca, now leads the USA by three points with one game to play. Trinidad & Tobago moved ahead of Guatemala in the battle for fourth place with a 1-0 win at Panama. The Soca Warriors lead Guatemala by two points.
WednesdayÆs games: USA-Panama, T&T-Mexico and Guatemala-Costa Rica.
Oct. 8 in San Jose
Costa Rica 3 USA 0. Goals: Wanchope 33, Hernandez 60, 88.
Costa Rica — Porras, Marin, Martinez, J.Drummond, Wallace, Gonzalez, M.Solis (Sequeira, 59), Centeno, Gomez, Saborfo (Hernandez, 59), Wanchope (Parks, 71).
USA — Howard, Onyewu, Pope, Bocanegra (Martino, 75), Albright (Quaranta, 62), Lewis, Mastroeni, Beasley, Convey, Ching, Twellman.
Yellow cards: Costa Rica û M.Solis 35, Porras 68, Wanchope 73; USA û Bocanegra 50, Ontewu 54, Lewis 70.
Referee: Benito Armando Archundia (Mexico).
Att.: 17,000.