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U.S. boosters Trinidad upsets Honduras; Costa Rica, Mexico draw
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) -- Coach Javier Aguirre says he was enraged as Mexico's soccer team struggled in what looked like a key game for qualifying for next year's World Cup, tying Costa Rica 0-0. "I was furious with myself and with my players," Aguirre said. "The goal didn't come. It was a very important game and I didn't want to hold back anything." In the end, the key game occurred elsewhere: Trinidad and Tobago's stunning 1-0 upset of Honduras left Mexico in control of its qualifying destiny. It needs only a tie at home in its final game against Honduras on Nov. 11 to win a trip to the finals in Japan and Korea. Both Mexico and Honduras are now 4-2-3. But Mexico is one goal ahead on goal differential. "The tie is good," Aguirre said, after learning of the result in Honduras. But he grumbled, "We should play a little better." Costa Rica was playing largely for pride. It had already qualified for the World Cup in Japan and Korea and now has 20 points, assuring itself of a first-place finish in the North and Central America and Caribbean division. The United States also qualified on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Jamaica. Costa Rican coach Alexandre Guimaraes said he was satisfied with the game: "Mexico played its game, but we had more clear chances for a goal," he said. Costa Rica started out more aggressively, using forwards Rolando Fonseca, Ronald Gomez and Hernan Medford to combine for eight shots against Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez in the first half. In the 17th minute, Perez narrowly diverted a shot from Medford off a pass from Fonseca in front of the Mexican goal. A minute later, Gomez missed just high over the Perez's goal. Medford missed again at 25 minutes. Mexico was erratic during much of the first period, but had several chances: Alberto Garcia Aspe missed over the crossbar and at 21 minutes, Johan Rodriguez missed a header. In the 83rd minute, Costa Rica again narrowly missed a score when Gomez evaded two defenders from the right side and fired a pass that William Sunsing could not quite reach as the ball passed slowly in front of the Mexican goal. Jesus Arellano of Mexico and Wilmer Lopez of Costa Rica were expelled for an argument in the 80th minute. --- Lineups: COSTA RICA: Eric Lonnis; Carlos Castro, Luis Marin, Reynaldo Parks, Gilberto Martinez; Harold Wallace, Mauricio Solis, Walter Centeno (Wilmer Lopez 70); Rolando Fonseca (William Sunsing 68), Hernan Medford (Steven Brice 46), Ronald Gomez. MEXICO: Oscar Perez; Manuel Vidrio, Rafael Marquez, Heriberto Morales (Luis Alberto Alves 65), Ramon Morales; Jesus Arellano, Gerardo Torrado, Alberto Garcia; Johan Rodriguez, Francisco Palencia, Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Referee: Antonio Pereira da Silva (Brazil). Ten-man Trinidad upsets Honduras 1-0SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras -- Trinidad and Tobago stunned Honduras 1-0 on Sunday, putting the host nation on the verge of elimination from next year's World Cup -- and putting the United States in. Stern John scored for Trinidad and Tobago at 61 minutes, giving the Caribbean country its first victory in the Cup playoff rounds. Because of goal differential, Honduras (4-2-3) must defeat Mexico (4-2-3) Nov. 11 at Mexico's forbidding Azteca Stadium in order to qualify. The upset, combined with the United States' 2-1 victory over Jamaica, qualified the United States for the World Cup finals in Japan and Korea. The U.S. team (5-1-3) visits Trinidad and Tobago Nov. 11. Knowing it needed a win ahead of the Mexico game, Honduras mounted a furious attack on Trinidad goalkeeper Shaka Hislop. But the visitors continually broke the Honduran advances, despite playing with only 10 minute after Brent Rahim was expelled for his second yellow card in the 20th minute. Honduran coach Ramon Maradiaga added forward Saul Martinez in place of central defender Reynaldo Clavasquin to take advantage of the shorthanded foe and the Hondurans managed to pound three shots off the goalpost. Trinidad and Tobago responded with sharp attacks and finally scored when John beat goalkeeper Noel Valladares, silencing the home crowd. The visitors then pulled back to a defensive position, while occasionally using their speed to break out on dangerous drives toward the Honduran goal. As the game ended, the Honduran team left the field under a shower of insults and protected by police. --- Lineups: HONDURAS: Noel Valladares, Milton Reyes, Ninrod Medida, Samuel Caballero, Reynaldo Clavasquin (Saul Martinez 52), Ivan Guerrero, Jose Luis Pineda, Danilo Turcios (Julio Cesar De Leon 25), Amado Guevara (Ricky Garcia 85), Carlos Pavon and David Suazo. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Shaka Hislop, Marvin Andrews, Dale Sanders, Keyeno Thomas, Avery John, Ansil Elcock, Brent Rahim, Arnold Dwarika, Gary Glasgow (Aurtis Whitley 29), Stocley Mason and Stern John. Referee: Mike Seifert (Canada).
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