U.S. men allow early goal, then rally past Costa Rica
Tim Weah scored on a shot that deflected off the goalkeeper in the 66th minute after Sergino
Dest started the comeback from a first-minute deficit, and the United States rallied past Costa Rica 2-1 on Wednesday night at Columbus, Ohio, to ease pressure as World Cup qualifying neared the halfway point.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, one of nine new starters inserted by coach Gregg Berhalter following Sunday’s dismal 1-0 loss at Panama, made a costly headed clearance that led to Keysher Fuller’s goal 60 seconds in, the fastest goal conceded by the U.S. in 23 years.
Dest, another new starter by his rotation-emphasizing coach, tied it in the 25th minute when he curled a shot past Keylor Navas.
“I was like, I have to shoot it,” Dest said. “I was just so happy. We needed that goal. It was a really important goal.”
Navas, one of the world’s top goalkeepers, strained an adductor muscle and was replaced by
Leonel Moreiera at the start of the second half.
Weah, a son of Liberia President and former
FIFA Player of the Year
George Weah, wasn’t in the original starting lineup but was announced just before kickoff in place of
Paul Arriola, who injuired his right groin. He tied it when Weston McKennie passed to
Dest, who dished to
Weah. His 10-yard shot from an angle bounced off a diving Moreira and inside the near post.
Weah was originally credited with a goal, but it was changed to an own goal by Moreira.
The U.S. has 11 points after six of 14 matches, with its three toughest games still ahead — at home against Mexico on Nov. 12 plus away matches at Mexico and Costa Rica.
“Right now we’re on the right track,” Dest said.
Costa Rica, an aged team with a starting lineup that averaged more then 30 years old, has seven points. The Ticos had won their three previous qualifiers against the U.S., helping end a streak of seven straight American World Cup appearances.
In later games, Canada hosted Panama, Honduras was home against Jamaica, and El Salvador was home against Mexico.
Elsewhere: Wales midfielder David Brooks, 24, will begin cancer treatment after being diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma. …
The French football league's board adopted a motion to oppose plans to play the men's World Cup every two years, arguing that the tournament is a world heritage that should not be “trivialized” and that such a move would disrupt calendars.
ETC.
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