Centeno lifts Costa Rica past El Salvador 1-0, into second place in CONCACAF

Costa Rica - Veteran midfielder Walter Centeno scored the lone goal with a 69th minute strike and gave Costa Rica a 1-0 victory over visiting El Salvador in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying Wednesday night.

The 34-year-old Deportivo Saprissa mainstay was making his 127th appearance for the Ticos and connected on a curving cross from midfielder Roy Myrie in the penalty area, sending the ball past El Salvador goalkeeper Miguel Montes for his 20th international goal.

The result moved Costa Rica into second place in the six-team CONCACAF hexagonal with six points, one behind the United States, after three of 10 matches. El Salvador remained with two points, tied for last with Trinidad. Three teams will automatically qualify for the 32-team World Cup field in South Africa while a fourth will face off against a South American side for another berth.

Both teams were denied on several first-half opportunities, including Costa Rica’s failure to convert a penalty.

The visiting Cuscatlecos had the first clear chance in the 22nd minute when striker Carlos Monteagu’s header from a Osael Romero corner kick struck the Costa Rica post having clearly beaten goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Four minutes later Costa Rica striker Andy Furtado was fouled from behind in the El Salvador area by defender Jose Enrique and was awarded a penalty by American referee Jair Marrufo.

Furtado, the hero of his team’s opening win over Honduras with two goals, however was thwarted when his low right-footed shot was smothered by Montes.

Five minutes earlier, Costa Rica midfielder Junior Diaz unleashed a furious shot from the top of the penalty area, forcing a Montes into a diving effort to push the ball around the post.

El Salvador was missing star midfielder Eliseo Quintanilla along with forward Christian Castillo, both of whom were suspended due to yellow card accumulation.

Costa Rica plays its next match at home against the United States on June 3 in San Jose while El Salvador hosts Mexico in its next game June 6 at a site yet to be determined.

The result added to Costa Rica’s domination in the history against its Central American neighbour, giving it 29 wins along with seven draws in 44 meetings, having outscored El Salvador 112-39.