US Stuns Costa Rica, Delights Honduras

WASHINGTON -- Playing a man down following Oguchi Onyewu's knee injury, the U.S. national team continued to press as it faced its first World Cup qualifying defeat on home soil in eight years. With seconds remaining in the 95th and final minute, defender Jonathan Bornstein raced unmarked onto Robbie Rogers' corner kick and powered home a sharp header that set off celebrations in both Washington D.C., and Honduras, while sending Costa Rica into sudden mourning.

The Ticos, up 2-0 at half and apparently on their way to the South Africa, surrendered their lead in the second half and settled for a 2-2 draw in Wednesday night's match at RFK Stadium. The result consigned them to a two-game playoff against Uruguay and lifted the Hondurans, who won in El Salvador, to the finals for the first time in 28 years.

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The game, the 18th in a year-and-a-half qualification odyssey, was played in the shadow of Tuesday morning's one-car collision that severely injured U.S. striker Charlie Davies. Many of the 26,243 fans in attendance held up Davies' number 9 during a ninth-minute tribute. At the same time, Conor Casey missed a wide-open chance that would set the tone for an infuriating first hour for the Americans.

Powered by the incisive attacking of Landon Donovan and Stuart Holden and some outstanding work up top by Jozy Altidore, the U.S. had little trouble creating chances throughout the first half. But Casey, who scored twice in Saturday's clincher in San Pedro Sula, botched an open look from 18 yards following a nice setup from Altidore, and Holden headed wide seven minutes later.

By the time Donovan hit his close-range shot over the crossbar in the 37th, the U.S. was trailing 2-0. Costa Rica forward Bryan Ruiz, who plays for Dutch club FC Twente, gave the hosts a lesson in finishing during a stunning four-minute span. In the 21st, he blew by Onyewu on the left and hammered a shot through Tim Howard's legs. In the 24th, he took a quick pass that beat Carlos Bocanegra and unleashed a vicious, rising shot from just outside the penalty area that beat Howard to the upper left corner.

Tico goalkeeper Keilor Navas was exceptionally strong in front of goal, punching out crosses at will. Donovan had an open look in the 44th but hit it meekly, and Altidore had all day to place his shot in the 45th but hit it straight at the goalkeeper.

Trailing but not desperate, the U.S. could take solace in the fact that it had been in this situation before. The team seems to muster its best effort only when facing adversity. In the 10 games in the hexagonal, the Americans yielded the first goal six times, yet they came back to secure 11 of their 20 total points in those games.

"It's a plus that we can compete and keep pushing when we're behind, and it's a minus that of late we've had too many situations where we have gone down," Bradley said.

With the forwards unable to finish, the defenders took charge. Midfielder Michael Bradley halved the U.S. deficit in the 72nd minute, jumping on a rebound following yet another nice save from Navas. But in the 83rd, disaster struck. Onyewu went down while backpedaling in the Costa Rican penalty area, and waived to the bench immediately. Bob Bradley said after the game that the defender had torn the patella tendon in his left knee, an injury he said could mean 3-4 months on the sidelines. Robbie Rogers, Jose Francisco Torres and Kenny Cooper had entered the game, leaving the U.S. without an available sub. But the team would not settle for the loss, and when Rogers stepped up to take his corner in the fifth and final minute of added time, Bornstein made the decision to push forward.

"We were pushing extremely hard that whole second half," the defender said. "I don't usually go up for corner kicks. Usually I stay in the back. But for that one, I was like, 'I'm getting in there.' "

When the ball went in, the Costa Ricans immediately slumped, sensing the gravity of the goal, while the U.S. celebrated as it it had only just qualified for the World Cup. Fireworks soon were set off atop RFK, and the players gathered on the field as Bocanegra took a microphone and thanked the fans. Bornstein said finishing ahead of Mexico and winning the six-team CONCACAF group carried "huge significance" to the players.

"The whole team wanted to go out and put in a good effort today. For Charlie, for his family, for everyone that was involved in this situation," Bornstein said. "To get the tie and go on to the World Cup as first in the group, I think it shows a lot about our team and what we're all about."