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Monday September 7, 2009

Dazzling Dos Santos stars in Mexico’s rout of Costa Rica

MIAMI: A scintillating performance from Giovani Dos Santos led Mexico to a resounding 3-0 win at Costa Rica on Saturday, throwing the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group wide open.

With the United States coming from behind to beat El Salvador 2-1 in Utah and a rampant Honduras thrashing bottom-placed Trinidad and Tobago 4-1, a single point separates the group’s top four teams.

Honduras and the United States have 13 points and lead Mexico and Costa Rica by a point with three matches remaining.

The top three teams in the group qualify automatically for next year’s Finals in South Africa. The fourth-placed team have a final chance to qualify through a playoff with the fifth-placed side from South America.

In the hostile atmosphere of the Saprissa stadium, Dos Santos fired Mexico ahead on the stroke of half-time with a magnificent left-foot strike from 20 metres out.

The Tottenham forward then set up two goals after the break in almost identical fashion. The first came after a smart exchange with Guillermo Franco breaking on the counter-attack, Dos Santos steering a delicate pass with the outside of his left foot to allow his team-mate to convert.

Another brilliant one-two between Dos Santos and Andres Guardado ended with the latter capitalising on another deft touch from the outside of Dos Santos’ left boot.

Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore gave the United States’ qualifying campaign a boost, each scoring to help the Americans come from behind to beat El Salvador 2-1.

El Salvador, who have never beaten the United States on the road, went ahead in the 32nd minute when Rodolfo Zelaya capitalised on a poor clearance to cross to Christian Castillo, whose looping header beat stranded keeper Tim Howard.

The Americans responded strongly with Dempsey missing a good chance when he fluffed a header from close range, and a Charlie Davies shot then cleared off the line.

Dempsey made amends in the 41st minute, however, when he headed in a pinpoint cross from Landon Donovan for the equaliser.

Altidore then grabbed the winner just before the break with a textbook header from another superb Donovan cross.

With just five points, El Salvador are on the brink of elimination with Trinidad and Tobago, who were crushed by in-form Honduras.

Carlos Pavon put Honduras ahead in the 20th minute and added another eight minutes later, his 22nd goal in 31 qualifiers.

Captain Amado Guevara made it 3-0 in the 61st minute before substitute David Suazo completed the rout with seven minutes left. Kerry Baptiste scored a consolation goal for the visitors near the close.

Honduras will have a much tougher test on Wednesday against Mexico at the Azteca stadium, while the United States play Trinidad away. Costa Rica travel to El Salvador. — Reuters

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