Costa Rica edge El Salvador in WCup qualifying

Walter Centeno’s header in the 69th minute lifted Costa Rica to a 1-0 victory over El Salvador in a North and Central America and Caribbean region qualifier for the 2010 World Cup.

The victory left Costa Rica alone in second place in the six-nation final phase of qualifying, one point behind the United States and two ahead of Honduras.

Centeno delivered the victory, connecting on a pass from the right from Carlos Hernandez.

Andy Furtado had a chance to put the hosts ahead in the 24th, but failed to convert a penalty, his weak shot easily stopped by Salvadoran keeper Miguel Montes.

Costa Rica rebounded from a 2-0 defeat by Mexico on Saturday at Azteca Stadium. With the victory they took their points total to six, including a victory over Honduras in February.

El Salvador remained on two points, after draws with Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.

The top three teams from the six-nation final phase of qualifying in the region advance directly to the World Cup finals in South Africa. The fourth-placed team plays off agains the fifth-placed team from South America for a berth.