Jozy Altidore matched a US record with a goal for the fourth match in a row as the hosts beat Honduras 1-0 on Tuesday to stay top of the table in North American FIFA World Cup qualifying.
The US kept their two-point lead over Costa Rica in the six-nation group with 13 points off four wins and a draw in five matches since dropping their CONCACAF final-round qualifying opener 2-1 in Honduras in February.
Costa Rica stayed on the heels of the US with a 2-0 home victory over Panama, giving the Ticos three wins and two draws in six matches and setting up a showdown for first place when the US visit Costa Rica when qualifying resumes on Sept. 6.
Photo: AFP
The region’s top three teams advance to next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil, while the fourth-placed team meets New Zealand to decide another berth.
Altidore, who plays for Dutch side AZ, found the net in the 73rd-minute off a cross from Fabian Johnson.
That gave Altidore, who last year had struggled to score for the US at times, goals in four consecutive matches, including a 4-3 friendly win over Germany, and qualifying triumphs over Jamaica and Panama.
Altidore drew level for the longest US scoring streak, established by William Looby in 1954-1955 and matched by Eric Wynalda, Brian McBride, Eddie Johnson and twice by all-time US leading scorer Landon Donovan.
US fans began chanting “We are going to Brazil” even before the final whistle.
No team with 13 final-round points has ever failed to advance to the World Cup from CONCACAF qualifying.
In a rainy San Jose, Costa Rica struck twice early in the second half to keep Panama in fifth place.
The Ticos took the lead off a left-footed free-kick by Bryan Ruiz in the 49th minute.
He fired around a wall of defenders to fire the ball into the far corner of the goal.
Costa Rica struck again in the 52nd minutes when Celso Borges took a pass from Ruiz in space just outside the penalty area and fired a right-footed strike into the top-right corner.
The results left Mexico third in the group, with eight points earned from a win and five draws, but still vulnerable as Honduras are only a point back and Panama just two adrift of the last guaranteed spot in Brazil. Winless Jamaica trail with two points.
Qualifying resumes on Sept. 6 with the seventh of 10 matches for each team, as Honduras visit Mexico, Jamaica travel to Panama and the Ticos host the US.
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