Honduras reaches World Cup as Costa Rica stunned

Honduras qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1982 and only the second time in history after a 1-0 victory at El Salvador and a heartbreaking draw for Costa Rica.

Carlos Pavon scored in the 63rd minute to give the Hondurans the triumph over their “Soccer War” rivals and join the United States and Mexico from North America for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

After civil unrest over a power struggle in Honduras, national team coach Reinaldo Rueda sees the World Cup qualification in unifying terms.

“It’s a contribution toward peace,” he said.

Victory alone was not enough and it appeared Costa Rica would cling to the last spot but Jonathan Bornstein’s header in the fifth minute of stoppage time gave 10-man United States a 2-2 draw with the Ticos at Washington to deny them.

On a cold and rainy night where Bryan Ruiz scored in the 21st and 24th minutes to give Costa Rica a 2-0 lead, the Americans fought back to finish North American qualifying with three wins and two draws when foes score first.

“It’s a good thing we respond and compete,” US coach Bob Bradley said. “It was a strong effort. It’s not how you draw it up but it showed their maturity, the spirit of our team and we’re very proud of that.”

Seconds away from a victory that would have booked a third consecutive trip to the global football showdown, Costa Rica instead lost out to Honduras and must now play Uruguay in a two-leg playoff to decide which makes the World Cup.

The Americans finished atop the North American regional qualifying group at 6-2-2 for 20 points, one more than Mexico with Honduras third ahead of Costa Rica on goal difference plus-six to nil after each finished 5-4 with one drawn.

“We’re very proud to win the group,” coach Bradley said.

But the victory came at a heavy cost.

US star defender Oguchi Onyewu of AC Milan will be out three to four months with a torn left patellar tendon, the injury coming a day after a severe car crash that badly injured US forward Charlie Davies and likely took him out of the World Cup.

“We’ve had two days of tough news,” Bradley said. “It’s another setback for us.

“Gooch has been such an important part of our team. It’s normally three of four months recovery time. He’s young. He’s healthy. He has good doctors. He’s someone we’re sure is going to get back.”

With Onyewu carried off on a stretcher in the 83rd minute, a 10-man US side was left since the Americans had used all their substitutions. It proved enough.

Michael Bradley, the US coach’s son, scored in the 72nd minute but the Ticos were still on track for a World Cup berth until defender Bornstein took a pass from Robbie Rogers and nodded it past Costa Rican goalkeeper Keilor Navas.

“We put a lot of numbers in the box,” Bornstein said. “I don’t usually go up for that but it was last shot time. No one marked me. I just snuck in there and the ball landed on my head.”

Mexico could have captured the CONCACAF qualifying crown but settled for a closing 2-2 draw at Trinidad and Tobago.

Kerry Batiste opened the scoring for the hosts in the 32nd minute on a penalty kick. Mexico’s Enrique Alejandro Esqueda levelled in the 55th minute but Baptiste scored his second goal of the game five minutes later.

Mexico’s Carlos Salcido netted the final goal in the 67th minute.