El Salvador beats Costa Rica 1-0

Sep 10, 2009 - 3:24 AM SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador(AP) -- Rudis Corrales scored in second-half injury time, and El Salvador defeated Costa Rica 1-0 Wednesday night to hurt the Ticos' chances of reaching next year's World Cup.

The United States (5-2-1) leads the final round of North and Central American and Caribbean qualifying with 16 points, one ahead of Mexico (5-3), three in front of Honduras (4-3-1) and four ahead Costa Rica (4-4). The top three teams qualify for the World Cup, and the No. 4 nation goes to a playoff against the fifth-place team in South America.

Costa Rica hosts Trinidad and Tobago (1-5-2) on Oct. 10 and finishes against the United States at Washington, D.C., on Oct. 14. El Salvador plays at Mexico on Oct. 10 and is home against Honduras four days later.