Perez Zeledon couldn’t make their advantage hold as they lost 3-1 in Alajuela on Tuesday.  On Thursday, Saprissa tied at Olimpia in Honduras 1-1.   So in November Alajuela will play Olimpia to determine the Central American champion and both clubs now qualify for the CONCACAF tourney (clubs from North and Central America and the CaribbeaN).  The winner of this tournament gets a bid to the Club World Cup in December 2006 in Japan.

Either Perez Zeledon or Saprissa will also qualify for the CONCACAF tournament, they also will have a playoff at the end of November.

Carmen-Pérez Zeledón 1-1
Santos-Heredia 1-1
Santa Cruz-San Ramon Suspended (rescheduled for Wednesday)
Alajuela-Saprissa 1-1
Cartago-Liberia Suspended (rescheduled for Wednesday)
Puntarenas-Brujas Suspended

Next Round, Sunday October 30

Herediano vs. Carmen, Eladio Rosabal Cordero Stadium in Heredia.

San Ramon vs. Santos, Guillermo Vargas Roldán Stadium in San Ramon

Cartago vs. Santa Cruz, Estadio Fello Meza Stadium in Cartago.

Liberia vs. Saprissa, Edgardo Baltodano Briceño Stadium in Liberia

Brujas vs. Alajuelense, National Stadium in San José.

Pérez Zeledón vs. Puntarenas, Municipal Stadium in Pérez Zeledón.

Saprissa lost at home 3-1 to a ferocious Olimpia on Tuesday.  They now face a tough battle on the road next week, that they must win by 2 goals or more in order to have any hope of securing a spot in the final. 

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, La Liga got stuck in the mud in Perez Zeledon and was fortunate to come away down by only one goal in a 1-0 loss. While there was action around both goals, Perez had more and better opportunities to make the victory by a wider margin.  This may come back to haunt them as Alajuela will host the complementary match on Tuesday.

But the whole country waiting for the "classic" on Sunday between Alajuela and Saprissa, the Central American tournament won’t matter until next week.

Heredia 1 - Alajuela 2
Suspended San Ramonense vs. Puntarenas and Santa Cruz vs. Carmelita
Santos 2 - Cartago 2
Brujas F.C. 0 - Saprissa 1
Perez Zeledon 4 - Liberia 1

10th Round Sunday, October 23
Puntarenas hosts Brujas, Estadio Lito Pérez
Alajuelense hosts Saprissa, Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto
Santa Cruz hosts San Ramon, Estadio Cacique Diriá
Santos hosts Heredia, Estadio Ebal Rodríguez Aguilar
Carmelita hosts Pérez Zeledón, Estadio Carlos Alvarado Villalobos
Cartago hosts Liberia, Estadio Fello Meza

GRUPO A
Alajuelense 9 games 20 points
Herediano 8 games 17 points
Puntarenas F. C. 8 games 13 points
Santacruceña 8 games 6 points
Liberia 9 games 6 points
Ramonense 8 games 1 point

GRUPO B

Saprissa 8 games 24 points
Brujas 9 4 games 15 points
Pérez Zeledón 9 games 14 points
Santos 9 games 12 points
Cartaginés 9 games 9 points
Carmelita 8 games 7 points

3 superb goals by the Guatemalans in 30 minutes dampened the Ticos euphoria over qualifying for the World Cup in Germany next year. A goal by Roy Myrie on sheer hustle salvaged the Ticos honor somewhat and Jafet Soto had a chance to make it interesting with a penalty shot that sailed high, but by and large fans were disappointed with the outing.

Even though Guatemala had to win and Costa Rica was already qualified, the coaches and players had said they wanted to keep up the momentum with a good showing. Well, on to Plan B - which is open up space on the calendar for friendly matches.

The first division teams are willing to possibly end the season early, which might give the national team a window of 2 months before the World Cup, plus any matches they can schedule in the meantime with other qualifiers.

Trinidad and Tobago beat Mexico 2-1 to qualify under their own efforts and the US beat Panama 2-0 at home to clinch first place in the round robin tournament.

Although the fans aren’t biting, players and coaches are ready to leave everything on the field. Amidst the backdrop of 650 deaths from mudslides caused by deforestation and rain from Hurricane Stan, the Guatemalans will play Costa Rica tonight in a must win match.

The Guatemalans also need a little help from their “friends” Mexico, who whupped them 5-2 on Saturday opening the door for Trinidad. If Mexico does win or tie in their visit to Trinidad, then Guatemala may qualify by beating Costa Rica, by what ever score. A Guatemalan loss or tie would hand the chance to the Caribbean team.

No matter which team qualifies fourth, they will face a playoff with a team from Asia in order to secure the ticket to the World Cup. The same situation will determine a possible 5th qualifier from South America.

According to a new poll in Al Dia Online, the players get the credit for Costa Rica being able to qualify for the World Cup next year:

Who Deserves the Most Credit for Our Ticket to Germany?
The players - 39 ( 44%)
The Fans - 30 ( 34%)
The Coach Alexandre Guimaraes - 16 ( 18%)
Hermes Navarro y the federation - 3 ( 3%)
88 - Votes

(Hermes voted twice) just kidding

Travel agencies are already selling packages to see the national team play in Germany in June of 2006. Package prices range from $3000 to $6000 and Germany does not require visas for Costa Ricans who stay less than 3 months.

Many agencies offer travel clubs, so you begin paying a small amount now and can travel before you pay the entire bill (40% to 60%, depending on the agency). Some of the packages:

Times Square Viajes 2000: $3,500 to $5,000. They offer a travel club where you pay $30 per week for 132 weeks.

Fast: They won’t offer specific packages until the tournament lottery is made and they know where Costa Rica will play. They plan to have packages from $3,000 and up. You can get a $30 per week club and after 25 quotas you may travel.

Costa Rica Visión: One package is $3,900 for 2 weeks in Germany. A 3 week package is $5,900, and includes six other countries, which you would visit before the World Cup games. . The packages are $40 and $60 per week and may be used after 45 payments.

On Saturday night Costa Rica clinched their berth in the 2006 World Cup to be played next summer in Germany. The 3-0 victory snapped a six game unbeaten streak for the U.S. and was sweet revenge for the Ticos who suffered a loss by the same score in Salt Lake City earlier this year.

The match highlights were Paolo Cesar Wanchope becoming the all-time Costa Rican leading goal-scorer when he made the score 1-0 in the 34th minute. The shot was his 43rd goal in 66 games for “La Sele”. The MVP for Costa Rica sub Carlos Hernandez who entered in the 58th minute and scored 2 minutes later on a mean shot that glanced of the post to shake the nets. But that was just a practice goal, as the real artillery came out in the 88th minute as Hernandez let loose a cruise missile from outside the area that only the back of the net could stop.

On Wednesday will be the final round of the qualifier:
Costa Rica visits Guatemala
Panama visits the US
Mexico visits Trinidad and Tobago

Either Guatemala or Trinidad will earn a chance to qualify in a playoff with a team from Asia. Trinidad has 10 points and Guatemala 8, so a win or a tie will assure them a place. Guatemala needs to win and to get help from Mexico, who whipped them in Mexico on Saturday 5-2.