U.S., Costa Rica Play To Draw

Now, the United States has little margin for error.

The Americans need to win at Barbados next month to be assured of advancing to the final round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup,

"We thought we dominated the game," Ante Razov said after the United States played a scoreless tie against Costa Rica on Wednesday night. "It was a hard match, every tackle was life and death. It didn't come out right tonight, now we have to go to Barbados and get three points."

The United States would have clinched advancing to the next round with a victory.

Instead, with one game left in the semifinal round of qualifying in soccer's North and Central American region, Costa Rica (3-1-1) leads Group E with 10 points, two ahead of the United States (2-1-2) and three ahead of Guatemala (2-2-1).

"I don't think we had a lot of great quality chances, but we had more than Costa Rica," said Dave Sarachan, the acting coach as Bruce Arena started serving his three-game suspension. "You aren't really happy when you don't win a game, but I was happy with the effort. We battled to the end and made a game of it."

Only the top two nations qualify for next year's six-nation regional finals, meaning the United States might need a win at Barbados on Nov. 15.

Guatemala plays at home against Costa Rica on the same day, and both games will kick off at the same time:

If the Americans win, they advance.

If the Americans tie or lose, the would advance only if Costa Rica wins at Guatemala.

If the Americans fail to win and Guatemala beats Costa Rica, the United States would miss the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

"I was a little disappointed to get a tie," said Josh Wolff, who joined the national team fresh off an impressive performance at the Sydney Olympics. "Then again, we didn't give up any points and we got a point."

While the United States routed Barbados 7-0 on Aug. 16 at Foxboro, Mass., the Americans had a two-man advantage for the final 49 minutes.

And Barbados has played much better at home, upsetting Costa Rica 2-1 and losing to Guatemala 3-1.

The Costa Ricans played conservatively for most of the game content to play long balls from the back to try to beat the American's offside trap. In the second half. they packed defenders around their goal to preserve the tie.

The United States was missing suspended midfielders Claudio Reyna, Earnie Stewart and Eddie Lewis, injured midfielder Tab Ramos and injured forward Brian McBride.

"In the first half, our passing and service could have been better. I was disappointed we didn't get a goal and come away with a win, but there were a lot of positives," Sarachan said. "Now, we have to go to Barbados and come away with a win."

The mostly pro-American crowd of 24,430 at Crew Stadium got loud in the closing minutes of the game when it looked as if Ante Razoslipped a pass from Josh Wolff past goalkeeper Alvaro Messen. Fans threw plastic beer bottles and trash on to the field after Razov was called offside.

Chris Armas, back from a sprained knee ligament, had a 21-yard shot late in the second half that Messen was just able to deflect. Three U.S. players converged on the rebound but were called offside.

The best change for the Americans in the first half came in the 23rd minute, when Messen saved a Razov short to the upper right corner.

It was a physical game that included 35 fouls, and the Americans outshot the Costa Ricans 8-4.

"The mood of the team is one of victory," Costa Rica coach Gilson Nunes said through a translator. "We came to win, but we're satisfied with a tie.

"It was a very balanced match. There were times when we controlled the game and there were times when the United States controlled the game."


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