Team USA Come Back To Gain Draw With Costa Rica; Honduras In WC Finals For First Time Since '82

Qualifying for next year's FIFA World Cup finals from the CONCACAF region concluded Wednesday.

At Washington:

Goals from Michael Bradley (71') and Jonathan Bornstein (90'+5) enabled the United States to erase a two-goal deficit and gain a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica which clinched first place in the final CONCACAF qualifying group for Team USA. Bryan Ruiz scored both Ticos goals (21', 24'). The Americans were playing without injured forward Charles Davies, who suffered multiple fractures in a one-car accident early Tuesday, which claimed the life of another passenger in the car. The draw, coupled with Honduras' 1-0 win at El Salvador placed the Ticos into a two-match home-and-away playoff with Uruguay for a place in South Africa.

At San Salvador, El Salvador:

Carlos Pavon scored the only goal of the match at 64 minutes as Honduras knocked off El Salvador 1-0 on the road to qualify for their first World Cup finals since 1982.

At Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:

A double from Kerry Baptiste (PK-32', 61') enabled Trinidad and Tobago to gain a 2-2 home draw with Mexico, which prevented El Tri from overtaking the United States to cop first place in the final qualifying group. The Mexicans got goals from Enrique Esqueda (58') and Carlos Salcido (66')

FINAL CONCACAF STANDINGS:

1. United States (GP: 10; GD: +6; PTS: 20)
2. Mexico (GP: 10; GD: +6; PTS: 19)
3. Honduras (GP: 10; GD: +6; PTS: 16)
4. Costa Rica (GP: 10; GD: 0; PTS: 16)
5. El Salvador (GP: 10: GD: -6; PTS: 8)
6. Trinidad and Tobago (GP: 10; GD: -12; PTS: 6)

The United States, Mexico, and Honduras automatically qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, while Costa Rica will take part in a two-match home-and-away series with Uruguay, beginning November 14 in Costa Rica, with the return match on November 18 in Uruguay.