Honduras and Mexico threw the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying competition wide open with home wins over Costa Rica and the United States on Wednesday. Honduras, helped by a Carlos Costly double, thrashed leaders Costa Rica 4-0 while Mexico came from behind to beat the United States 2-1, the second win over their bitter rivals in less than a month.
Only three points now separate the top four sides in the six-team group. Costa Rica stayed top with 12 points, followed by Honduras and the United States on 10 while Mexico, who beat an experimental US team 5-0 in the Gold Cup final last month, are back in the hunt with nine, all of them picked up at home. All teams have four matches to play.
The top three qualify directly for the World Cup in South Africa next year while the fourth team will face a two-leg playoff against a South American side for another berth. El Salvador dropped four points behind Mexico after losing 1-0 in Trinidad and Tobago, who went level on points with their opponents but stayed bottom on goal difference. Cornell Glen scored the only goal in the seventh minute to dent the Central Americans' hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 1982.
The United States, who have never won a match or had even held a lead in 19 previous visits to the Azteca, stunned the 105,000 crowd in Mexico City when Charlie Davis curled the ball past Guillermo Ochoa in the ninth minute. They held the lead for only 11 minutes though, Israel Castro equalising with a 25-metre rocket.
With only seven minutes to go, Efrain Juarez burst down the right into the area and the ball broke free to substitute Miguel Sabah, who rifled in the winner only four minutes after coming onto the field. "It was a tight game and a fair score but it is a tough loss - to have so many guys work so hard and then give up a late goal," said US coach Bob Bradley. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, who has revived the team since replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson, was reluctant to get carried away with the win.
"There are still 12 points to play for, it's difficult to say that we have the ticket to South Africa in our hands but we did what we had to do today," he added. "I feel calm now, the pressure of the last few days has gone and I think I will go and have a couple of shots of tequila." Honduras striker Costly scored the first and last goals for his side, who are attempting to reach their first World Cup since 1982. Melvin Valladares and 35-year-old Carlos Pavon were also on target. Costa Rica are attempting to qualify for their third successive World Cup.
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