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Pointless U.S. comes up empty in last-minute loss at Costa Rica
ATLANTA (CNNSI.com) -- For the second straight week, the U.S. allowed a late goal to lose points in a World Cup qualifier. A wild finish on Sunday capped by a controversial penalty kick gave Costa Rica a 2-1 victory over the United States in a Group E qualifying match for the 2002 World Cup. Minutes after the U.S. escaped from what looked to be a clear foul in the box, Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast pointed to the spot on a suspect handball by defender Gregg Berhalter from a right side cross. Berhalter indicated the ball hit him in the face, and television replays appeared to support him. U.S. coach Bruce Arena was disgusted at the call and walked out of a post-match press conference. "It was a disgrace," Arena said. "I saw it from the same angle as the ref and there was no way he could have seen it. I told him that he cheated us." Berhalter also criticized the referee. "He [Hernan Medford] crossed it; I headed it out of bounds," said Berhalter. "The ref was behind me; there was no way he could have seen what happened. It was a case where the ref was under pressure to do something, and he made a bad call. "My hands were by my side." Medford, the sole survivor of the Costa Rica side who reached the last 16 of the 1990 World Cup, converted the penalty in the third minute of injury time after both sides missed several scoring chances.
U.S. midfielder Claudio Reyna had to be restrained by teammates and coaches after the match as he attempted to confront the referee. Reyna went at Prendergast with such anger that the referee took several steps backward. "This one is tough to swallow," said Reyna, the U.S. captain who plays club soccer with Scotland's Rangers. "I thought we did a great job to battle back, and it hurts to see it be all for nothing." Reyna said Prendergast was in a bad position to see whether Berhalter used his hands. "It's a terrible decision at that time of the game, but there's nothing we can do about it now," he said. Despite outshooting Costa Rica, 8-1, in the first half, the U.S. trailed 1-0 until the 65th minute. Costa Rica's only shot on goal in the period was enough for a 1-0 halftime lead. On a quick counterattack, Costa Rican captain Medford served a swooping cross to the far post to an unmarked Rolando Fonseca, who headed it back across the goal just out of reach of sprawling U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller. The U.S. was under siege in the second half. Costa Rica attacked relentlessly, highlighted by a five-minute span around the 60th minute in which the "Ticos" had a number of scoring chances in front of the U.S. goalmouth, including a shot that went wide right of an open net and a goal that was called back due to offside. The U.S. equalized through Ernie Stewart in the 65th minute and appeared content with its second road draw in as many World Cup qualifiers. The Dutch-based Stewart tapped in a rebound with his left foot from close range after a shot by Ante Razov was blocked. Defender Tony Sanneh freed Razov with a central pass toward the penalty box. The decisive penalty kick was awarded minutes after a dangerous challenge in the box by U.S. midfielder Frankie Hejduk went uncalled. Last week, the Americans settled for a 1-1 tie at Guatemala, giving up a goal in the 88th minute after leading for half of the match. After two games, the United States is last in the four-team group with a single point. Costa Rica is second with three, followed by surprising Barbados. Guatemala heads the group with four points after blanking Barbados, 2-0, on Saturday. "The last eight days, we thought we had lost our World Cup," said Costa Rica forward Paulo Wonchope. "This means we have it back. Today we learned you must never quit. It's not enough to play pretty soccer, you have to dig deep." "This [team] is a work in progress," said Costa Rica coach Gilson Nunes. "You [media] have to respect the team. You want us to play pretty soccer, but we won today. Do you want us to play pretty and lose?" The U.S. never has had much success at Costa Rica. It is winless in six trips here (0-4-2) with the overall series edge (8-7-3) and goal differential (22-19) going to Costa Rica.
The Americans also surrendered a late goal against Guatemala last week, perhaps fatigued in the sweltering Central American heat. Despite Sunday's loss, the U.S. and Costa Rica remain favorites to make it through to the final round of qualifying in the zone. The top two teams from Group E advance to the final six-team qualifying group, with three of those countries reaching the World Cup. The U.S. has all of its home games yet to play, beginning Aug. 16 against Barbados in Foxboro, Massachusetts. "We just have to win the next four games, that's all," Arena said. Scorers: Costa Rica - Rolando Fonseca 10, Hernan Medford 90pen United States - Earnie Stewart 66 Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 20,000 Teams: Costa Rica - 18-Alvaro Mesen; 21-Reynaldo Parks, 15-Harold Wallace, 4-Alexander Madrigal, 13-Sandro Alfaro (6-Austin Berry, 77); 10-Walter Centeno, 19-Rodrigo Cordero, 7-Rolando Fonseca, 11-Jafet Soto; 9-Paulo Wanchope, 17-Hernan Medford United States - 18-Kasey Keller; 17-Tony Sanneh, 3-Gregg Berhalter, 22-Greg Vanney, 6-David Regis; 14-Chris Armas, 7-Eddie Lewis (15-Ched During, 86), 10-Claudio Reyna, 8-Earnie Stewart; 13-Cobi Jones (2-Frankie Hejduk, 77), 11-Ante Razov (21-Jason Kreis, 86) Misconduct Summary: USA - Greg Vanney (caution) 12th minute.
Officials: Referee - Peter Prendergast (JAM)
More post-game U.S. quotesHead coach Bruce Arena: His thoughts on the last-minute goal by Costa Rica: "Disgraceful. I probably saw the play as well as the referee." "We played very hard, very fair, and very honest today. Our players have conducted themselves wonderfully these last two games. They have nothing to be ashamed of. Our whole team is disappointed. That's not the way to decide a game." "I thought we outplayed them in both halves, to be honest. They scored a good goal, give them credit, and it's difficult giving away a goal like that, but we had to fight real hard to get back into that game. Now we need to regroup, and we need to win our next three games." Midfielder Claudio Reyna: Describing the scene on the field after the disputed call: "There were a lot of emotions, and it's hard to control yourself after you think you've been robbed of points. We played a good game and we feel we deserve more. With the chances we had at the end we should've had at least a point, if not the win. On the referee's position during disputed play: "He was in a very bad position. . I don't think he was awful the whole game, but that particular call was a very bad call. I don't know if that call was to make up for a penalty he didn't call before, but it was a terrible decision at that time of the game. There's nothing we can do about it now, though."
Reuters contributed to this report.
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