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In the shadow of the final World Cup Qualifying game for the USA, forward Charlie Davies was injured in an auto accident that fatally injured one person and left Davies recovering in the hospital earlier this week on Tuesday.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to you Charlie and we wish you a speedy and complete recovery.

In response to this tragic accident, US Soccer players and supports held a tribute to the #9 by standing and holding signs with his jersey number in the 9th minute of the game tonight against Costa Rica.  And even though this game really meant next to nothing for the USA (having already clinched a spot in South Africa but beating Honduras last Sunday) you knew that our boys wanted to win the group outright and they wanted to do it for Charlie Davies.  To pull this off, the USA would need at least a draw.

But after the first half of play, the USA found themselves down 2 goals to nil and struggling against a Costa Rican side that was fighting for their lives.  Much like the opposite game in Supresa Stadium earlier this year in March, the USA was being outplayed by a team that just looked hungrier.  But after some nice changes from Bob Bradley at about the hour-mark, the USA would turn the table and pull off what would prove to be an emotional comeback.

The first US goal would be created by the first of those substitutions, Robby Rogers.  Playing down the right side of midfield, Rogers made a real difference in the offensive-third of field.  He was able to make a number of positive runs down the flank and would center the ball to the feet of Landon Donovan who would send in a strong shot.  The Costa Rican keeper, Keylor Navas, would deflect the shot but only as far as the coaches son, Micheal Bradley, who would go bravely in to a challenge with Navas.  Bradley would win and send the ball of the goalkeeper into the back of the net.  This sent the US Soccer fans into a frenzy as they cheered to help their team achieve what everyone wanted.

It wouldn’t be easy but the goal would come late, in the 5th minute of stoppage time. The USA kept coming wave after wave until they won an important corner kick. As the ball came in, you just wondered who would be the hero and pull the Americans all the way back. The unlikely volunteer would be Jonathan Bornstein who would meet the ball impressively in the air and make no mistake, sending the ball down to the near post. The ball would bounce past the keeper and a defender and into the back of the net. RFK erupted! A perfect end to an well played qualifying campaign with the added bonus of winning it for Charlie!

Category: US Soccer, World Cup Qualifying | Tags: american soccer, charlie davies, Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, usa vs costa rica soccer