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World Cup qualifying: Costa Rica cruise to easy win in Panama [Mon Sep 5th, 2005]
Panama City (Reuters) - Costa Rica emerged as firm favourites to take the third CONCACAF spot at the 2006 World Cup after their 3-1 win away to Panama.
The win kept Costa Rica, who have 10 points from seven games, third in the final stage of the CONCACAF qualifiers and took them three points ahead of Guatemala, who lost 3-2 in Trinidad & Tobago.
The top three teams qualify directly and the fourth team play off against the fifth team from the Asian region.
The United States, who lead with 18 points, have already qualified and Mexico, who have 16, need one point from their last three games.
Costa Rica, missing striker Paulo Wanchope through suspension but boosted by the presence of 5,000 fans who crossed the border for the game, went ahead when Alvaro Saborio scored against the run of play two minutes before half-time.
Walter Centeno and Ronald Gomez added two more goals in the second half before 38-year-old veteran Jorge Dely Valdes scored an injury-time consolation for Panama.
Panama are bottom of the group with two points.
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