US break Costa Rican hearts but lose Onyewu

AFP - 15 October 2009 05:30

US players celebrate after a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica in a 2010 World Cup qualifier at RFK Stadium in Washington. Jonathan Bornstein scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give the US a draw that denied the Ticos a berth in the World Cup.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Jonathan Bornstein's header in the fifth minute of stoppage time gave 10-man United States a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica that denied the Ticos a berth in the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

On a cold and rainy night where Bryan Ruiz scored in the 21st and 24th minutes to give Costa Rica a 2-0 lead, the Americans fought back to finish North American qualifying with three wins and two draws when foes score first.

"It's a good thing we respond and compete," US coach Bob Bradley said. "It was a strong effort. It's not how you draw it up but it showed their maturity, the spirit of our team and we're very proud of that."

But the victory came at a heavy cost.

US star defender Oguchi Onyewu of AC Milan will be out three to four months with a torn left patellar tendon, the injury coming a day after a car crash that severely injured US forward Charlie Davies and likely took him out of the World Cup.

"We've had two days of tough news," Bradley said. "It's another setback for us.

"Gooch (Onyewu) has been such an important part of our team. It's normally three of four months recovery time. He's young. He's healthy. He has good doctors. He's someone we're sure is going to get back."

With Onyewu carried off on a stretcher in the 83rd minute, a 10-man US side was left since the Americans had used all their substitutions. It proved enough.

Michael Bradley, the US coach's son, scored in the 72nd minute but the Ticos were still on track for a World Cup berth until defender Bornstein took a pass from Robbie Rogers and nodded it past Costa Rican goalkeeper Keilor Navas.

"We put a lot of numbers in the box," Bornstein said. "I don't usually go up for that but it was last shot time. No one marked me. I just snuck in there and the ball landed on my head."

Seconds away from a victory that would have booked a third consecutive trip to the global football showdown, Costa Rica instead lost out to Honduras and must now play Uruguay in a two-leg playoff to decide which makes the World Cup.

The Americans finished atop the North American regional qualifying group at 6-2-2 for 20 points, one more than Mexico with Honduras third ahead of Costa Rica on goal difference plus-six to nil after each finished 5-4 with one drawn.

"We're very proud to win the group," coach Bradley said.

The Americans won a 19th consecutive World Cup home qualifier despite early struggles as Costa Rica has now gone 24 years since winning a qualifier on US soil.

Ruiz opened the scoring by racing around US defender Steve Cherundolo to the right of goalkeeper Tim Howard and left-footed the ball past the sprawled US netminder.

Ruiz struck again in the 24th minute on a give-and-go play, taking the ball at the top of the area and curling a left-footed kick high into the far corner past a diving Howard.

"Every time. Every (expletive) time," Howard screamed at US defenders after the goal, which delighted thousands of loud, flag-waving Costa Rica supporters.

Bradley answered 27 minutes into the second half after Navas stopped a Landon Donovan shot, Bradley chipping the rebound over Navas into the net.

Ticos coach Rene Simoes, a Brazilian and former Jamaica coach hired for the last qualifiers, was ejected in stoppage time, escorted off before Costa Rica was delivered a heartbreaking blow.

The Americans lead Costa Rica 12-11 with five drawn in the all-time rivalry.