by Rod Hughes
Now is the time for sports writers to tear up the poll results and start all over again.
Costa Rica may lose by tying. They tied Haiti 1-1 Saturday after losing 2-1 against Canada Wednesday. This means to have a chance to stay in the Gold Cup soccer competition in Miami, the erstwhile favorites have to win in their match with Guadelupe Monday (today at 5 .m. Costa Rican time.) Otherwise, it’s pack your bags and go home.
But the whole tourney is registering surprises. Canada, after tromping Costa Rica Wednesday, fell to Guadelupe Saturday, 2-1, meaning that Group A has an odd look to the standings–fortunately for the Ticos. And the other favorite, once powerhouse Mexico in Group C? They fell Sunday to Honduras 2-1. Thud! (Let’s tear up those poll results into even smaller pieces…)
Meanwhile, Group B is headed by the United States with a comfortable six points. And Panama leads Group C.
Costa Rica dominated play Saturday evening, which is a little like saying “The operation was a success but the patient died.” Only Haiti’s formidable goaltender, G. Fenelon, kept the constant Tico attacks on the goal from turning the game into a rout. Then, in the second half, Walter Centeno repeated Wednesday’s feat of making Costa Rica’s only goal of the match. (What did we call Centeno in our report of the Canada game? “Ever-reliable.” Well, we got something right, at least.)
But M. Alexandre took advantage of a moment of defensive confusion to tie it all up 10 minutes later.
After the game, Costa Rican coach Hernan Medford simply said, “I was satisfied with the way we played–except for our momentary lapse of concentration on defense–but, of course, I’m not happy with the result. But the boys gave it everything they had.”