USA draws 2-2 with Costa Rica and tops Hexagonal

[Zeppo]

Bornstein's stoppage-time header gives U.S. draw against Costa Rica

American players wanted to win for Charlie. They didn't, but it sure felt like a victory when the United States scored with just seconds remaining in its final World Cup qualifier.

After Jonathan Bornstein's goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time gave the United States a 2-2 tie against Costa Rica on Wednesday night, players took a victory lap. They carried a banner with the No. 9, the jersey number of Charlie Davies, their teammate who is hospitalized with serious injuries from an automobile accident.

"We used Charlie's situation to motivate us," goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "We're happy he was alive, and that in itself gave us a lift. Charlie would give anything at this moment to put on a jersey and have it all back. You almost kind of feel lucky and privileged, and that was kind of motivation to us."

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[Time]

anyone knows why Simoes was sent off?

Bornstein's stoppage-time header gives U.S. draw against Costa Rica

American players wanted to win for Charlie. They didn't, but it sure felt like a victory when the United States scored with just seconds remaining in its final World Cup qualifier.

After Jonathan Bornstein's goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time gave the United States a 2-2 tie against Costa Rica on Wednesday night, players took a victory lap. They carried a banner with the No. 9, the jersey number of Charlie Davies, their teammate who is hospitalized with serious injuries from an automobile accident.

"We used Charlie's situation to motivate us," goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "We're happy he was alive, and that in itself gave us a lift. Charlie would give anything at this moment to put on a jersey and have it all back. You almost kind of feel lucky and privileged, and that was kind of motivation to us."

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I saw some of the first half but when tuned in to the 2nd half is was at the point where Simoes was being escorted out.

[Warlord]

Not sure what happened there but Costa Rica has a very tough playoff series coming up next month with Uruguay. I dont think they will make it. There best chance of gaining automatic qualification went up in smoke last night when they gave up a last second goal to team USA. To be frank, Honduras has played the best football of all 3 Central American nations and deserved that 3rd spot.

[Hortical]

Onyewu out 3-4 months with torn knee tendon

WASHINGTON -- U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu tore a tendon in his left knee during Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica, an injury that usually requires a recovery time of three-to-four months.

The AC Milan defender fell down on the slick turf of RFK Stadium during the 83rd minute of the 2-2 draw and left the field on a stretcher.
Onyewu's injury came a day after teammate Charlie Davies was seriously injured in a car crash. Davies is unlikely to play in next year's World Cup.
"We've had two days of tough news," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "Gooch has been a such an important part of our team."
Onyewu was diagnosed with a torn patellar tendon. However, Bradley expressed confidence he would recover in time for the World Cup.
"He's young, he's healthy, our doctors are good," Bradley said. "He's someone that we're sure is going to get back and be ready to go."
A 6-foot-4 defender from Olney, Md., Onyewu left Belgium's Standard Liege after last season and signed a three-year contract in July with AC Milan.
The 27-year-old has appeared in just one of the club's 10 competitive matches this season, making his official debut as a 60th-minute substitute in the 1-0 Champions League loss to Zurich on Sept. 30.
Because the U.S. had used its three substitutes, Onyewu could not be replaced after the injury. Still, the United States gained the draw when Jonathan Bornstein headed in a corner kick in the fifth minute of stopped time.

[HL]

Simoes was sent off because he wasted a lot of time with paperwork to make a substitution. This was a strategic move (to kill time) that did not pay off. His assistant was also red-carded.

The team trainer took over during the last minutes.

One of the most exciting WC qualification game i've seen this season.

CR will have to play for the 3rd spot!

[Karl]

CR did well...but the US should have won by a wider margin. They laid siege to the Costa Rican goal for what seen like - forever! ...in fact the messed up in front of goal so often that it looked like CR would have held on.

....mmmm?
US are the BoyU of CONCACAF? ...was that 'extra-time' and not time added for stoppages???
mmmm????

[Zeppo]

Final qualifier far from meaningless

This was supposed to be a news-free visit to the nation's capital for the U.S. national team. The Yanks had already clinched a World Cup berth on Saturday. Their final qualifier here on Wednesday against Costa Rica was going to be "meaningless."

Try telling that to the U.S. players, who celebrated their dramatic come-from-behind 2-2 tie (RECAP) with an emotional tribute to forward Charlie Davies, who was seriously injured in an auto accident on Tuesday. Try telling that to the U.S. fans, who honored the No. 9-wearing Davies by standing, cheering and setting off red-white-and-blue smoke bombs during the game's ninth minute.

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