Late US goal for draw breaks Costa Rican hearts

Jonathan Bornstein scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give the United States a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica that denied the Ticos a berth in the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

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

The result means Costa Rica will face Uruguay, South America’s fifth-place team, in a two-leg playoff for a World Cup berth.

Bryan Ruiz scored in the 21st and 24th minutes to give Costa Rica a 2-0 half-time lead and even after Michael Bradley pulled one back for the Americans in the 72nd minute, the Ticos were still on track for a World Cup berth.

But Bornstein struck on a header inthe final seconds of stoppage time to lift the US team to an 19th consecutive World Cup qualifier win at home and snatch a World Cup berth out of the hands of Costa Rica.