October 15, 2009 at 11:11 am · Filed under soccer
Photo from dcunited’s flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcunited/4014318316/
The US overcame a two-goal deficit, horrendous finishing, playing down a man, and playing with heavy hearts with their teammate Charlie Davies in the hospital to tie a Costa Rica team desperate for the win that would qualify them for next summer’s World Cup. Jonathan Bornstein’s header from a Robbie Rogers corner kick in the 95th minute leveled the score 2-2 and secured first place in CONCACAF for the US after a grueling 16-month tournament. On the other side, it was heartbreak for Costa Rica; the tie pushed them into fourth place which means a two-game playoff with Uruguay, CONMEBOL’s fifth place team, will decide which nation will be the final team to qualify for South Africa.
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October 13, 2009 at 10:36 am · Filed under soccer
Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images
Mission Accomplished. The US is going to South Africa after scoring three goals in the second half and surviving a few scares in the dying moments against a Honduras team that had won all eight of its prior home games in 2010 qualifying. Conor Casey scored the first two goals and drew the foul that led to the third. Donovan scored the third, expertly hitting a direct kick over a five-man wall and into the upper corner from 20 yards. Honduras had scored in the first two minutes of the second half on a similar direct kick. They were fortunate to be credited with a second goal after a missed offside call, but unfortunate to miss a penalty with five minutes remaining. Having missed the first 30 minutes and only able to watch the remainder of the game on an Internet feed, it is difficult to judge individual performances. What I will say is that qualification is not easy, no matter where you are in the world (ask fans of Portugal or Argentina or Nigeria), and the US is in for the sixth consecutive World Cup. Kudos to Bob Bradley. The US won all its home matches (with one remaining) and won in Trinidad & Tobago and Honduras.
Here are some good articles/posts from journalists who were either at the game or able to watch it on a decent feed.
Americans Qualify for World Cup Steven Goff, Washington Post
Where’s the Love for U.S.’ Casey? Greg Lalas, Sports Illustrated
USA 3, Honduras 2: The U.S. is in the 2010 World Cup Grant Wahl, Sports Illustrated
