MEXICO CITY -- Costa Rica upset Mexico
when it came from behind to win 2-1 at Azteca Stadium in a World Cup qualifier Saturday.
Veteran Hernan Medford, who played in Italy 11 years ago
when Costa Rica made its only World Cup finals appearance,
scored the winner in the 87th minute on a
rebound.
It was Mexico's first World Cup defeat in 52 matches at
the Azteca Stadium. Jose Abundis gave Mexico an early lead but
Costa Rica took control and Rolando Fonseca equalized from a
brilliant free kick in the second half.
The defeat left Mexico struggling in the final round of the
CONCACAF qualifying competition with four points from four games
and is likely to cost coach Enrique Meza his job.
Meza was already under pressure after his team lost all
three games at the Confederations Cup at the start of the month
and fell 4-0 to England in a friendly.
"We knew their weaknesses and we took advantage of them,"
said Medford, who has played in Mexican club football for nearly
a decade.
Mexico midfielder Marco Antonio Ruiz said: "We had the game
under control and we let them get back into it."
Costa Rica has seven points from four games and is second
in the group.
Curiously, the opening exchanges threatened to produce a
Mexican goal feast.
Striker Jose Abundis beat Gilberto Martinez to a corner to
head in the opener after seven minutes and the Mexicans created
two good chances to score again immediately afterwards against
a shaky visiting defense.
Costa Rica quickly pulled together and nearly
equalized in the 11th minute when Paolo Cesar Wanchope turned
and hit a low shot against the post from 25 meters. One minute
later, Mexico's Victor Ruiz hit the post from a free kick.
Costa Rica took control of the midfield but much of the game
was played at walking pace as the baking midday sun and the high
altitude seemed to affect the Mexicans as much as the visitors.
The visitors continued to dominate after the break, with
Steven Bryce and Wanchope both missing good chances to equalize.
The "Ticos" were finally rewarded in the 73rd minute when
Fonseca curled a majestic free kick over the wall and into the
top corner of the goal from 25 meters to tiel the score.
Medford then silenced the crowd when he scored after Osvaldo
Sanchez could only partially block a long-range shot from Willian Sunsing.
Costa Rica goalkeeper Erick Lonnis guaranteed an historic
win when he tipped over a long-range shot in the final minute.
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