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.