FONSECA DOUBLE SEES COSTA RICA THROUGH
Two goals by Costa Rica's Rolando Fonseca in each half, to go with finishes by Reynaldo Parks, Jafet Soto, and Manchester City's Paulo Wanchope (pictured) dismissed Carlos Ruiz's two-goal reply for Guatemala.
The play-off became necessary after the Central American rivals finished the round-robin of Group E tied with 10 points, Ruiz scoring a last minute winner to beat Costa Rica and force the game.
Each side beat the other 2-1 at home and both nations had a plus-three goal differential, forcing Saturday's match to be staged at the neutral site.
Guatemala opened the scoring when Claudio Rojas stole the ball and passed to Juan Carlos Plata, who dribbled into the box and crossed from the left, Carlos Ruiz out-ran Costa Rican goalkeeper Alvaro Mesen, beating him to the ball and finishing as the two collided.
Costa Rica quickly answered with an equaliser by Maine Road hit-man Wanchope in the seventh minute after Guatemala failed twice to clear their lines.
After this, the much favoured Costa Ricans took control and went ahead in the 43rd minute, when Fonseca played a one-two with midfielder Rodrigo Cordero and got in behind Guatemalan defender Luis Swisher to drive the ball home.
Fonseca, who ironically plays with Guatemalan club side CSD Comunicaciones, was instrumental on the third goal in the 58th minute when his corner kick was headed home by Parks.
Less than a minute later, Fonseca made it 4-1 with a blast from 35 yards out that flew into the left corner of the net.
Costa Rican substitute Jafet Soto, who came on for goalscorer Parks, made it 5-1 late in the second half before Ruiz and Guatemala netted their second goal of the match from the penalty spot in the final minute.
With the victory, Costa Rica join the United States, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago in the final round group of Football Confederation World Cup qualifying, which begins next month.
The play-off match was played in front of a crowd of 50,000 at Miami's Orange Bowl stadium, which included Costa Rican president Miguel Angel Rodriguez.
