TEGUCIGALPA -- Costa Rica won 3-2 away to
Honduras in a pulsating match on Sunday to home in on a place at
next year's World Cup.
Mauricio Solis settled the game in the 83rd minute after the
Ticos had raced to a 2-0 lead in 15 minutes only to be pegged
back to 2-2 before halftime.
Costa Rica, whose only World Cup appearance so far was in
1990, went top of the final stage of the CONCACAF qualifying
competition with 13 points from six games, ahead of the United
States on goals scored.
Honduras, who reached the finals in 1982, remained third but
only goal difference now separates them from Jamaica.
The top three teams go to Japan and South Korea next year.
Honduras, buoyed by their 3-1 win over Mexico ten days ago,
began confidently but awful defending saw them conceded two
goals in four minutes.
English-based striker Paulo Wanchope beat three defenders to
a free kick to head the visitors ahead after nine minutes and
Rolando Fonseca added a second four minutes later after the
Honduran defence missed several chances to clear the ball.
Two goals by Amado Guevara put the free-scoring Hondurans
level by time. First, he converted a penalty awarded for
handball then snapped up a rebound after Costa Rica goalkeeper
could only a parry a long-range shot by Danilo Turcios.
Honduras dominated after the break but Lonnis denied them
with three top-class saves.
With seven minutes left, the hard-working Wanchope won the
ball in the corner and fed Solis, who scored with a low
left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area.
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