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U.S. rallies late to tie Costa Rica
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Published: October 15, 2009
WASHINGTON - Jonathan Bornstein headed in a corner kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time, giving the United States a 2-2 tie against Costa Rica last night that put Honduras in next year's World Cup.
Bryan Ruiz scored twice in a four minute-span midway through the first half to give Costa Rica a 2-0 lead, but Michael Bradley cut the U.S. deficit in the 72nd minute.
With the United States playing a man short after defender Oguchi Onyewu tore a tendon in his left knee and Costa Rica less than 20 seconds or so from qualifying, Bornstein headed in a corner kick from second-half substitute Robbie Rogers from about 7 yards.
At the end, U.S. players held up a banner with the number "9" of teammate Charlie Davies, who was injured in a car crash Tuesday and is unlikely to play in the World Cup.
Onyewu, who fell on the slick turf, has a torn patellar tendon, an injury that usually requires a recovery time of three to four months. Because the U.S. had used its three substitutes, he couldn't be replaced.
The United States topped the CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean) region for the second straight qualifying cycle with a 6-2-2 record, finishing one point ahead of Mexico (6-3-1), which tied 2-2 at last-place Trinidad and Tobago. Honduras (5-4-1) won 1-0 at El Salvador and qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1982, finishing ahead of Costa Rica (5-4-1) on goal difference, plus-2 to even.
Costa Rica now faces a two-match playoff against Uruguay next month for a berth in the finals.
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