Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra
and
Michael Bradley
. Two other MLS veterans --
Brad Guzan
and
Kenny Cooper
-- dressed but did not play. Former LA Galaxy striker
Carlos Pavon
missed a penalty kick in the 87th minute that would have tied the game for Honduras. Ex-Chivas USA midfielder
Ramon Nunez
came into the game in the 75th minute.
In a week of vast emotional contrast, the U.S. team went from the high of qualifying for soccer's quadrennial extravaganza on Saturday, to the horror of the fatal automobile accident involving forward Charlie Davies in the early hours of Tuesday, Oct. 13. With their stricken teammate recovering from emergency surgery in a Washington, D.C. area hospital, the U.S. hosted Costa Rica in the final round of hexagonal play Oct. 14. Jozy Altidore joined Howard, Bocanegra and Bradley in the starting XI. Down 2-0 at halftime, Bob Bradley's squad rallied in the second half. His son, Michael, pulled one back in the 72nd minute and Jonathan Bornstein scored the equalizing goal on a header in stoppage time. Cooper was a second-half substitute.
Costa Rica's two-team MLS veteran Douglas Sequeira was an unwitting participant in the red-card ejection of his head coach, Rene Simoes. The coach was ejected in the 88th minute after arguing with the fourth official about what Simoes saw as the unwarranted delay in letting him make the Sequeira substitution. While the U.S. advances on to South Africa, the Ticos now face Uruguay in a home-and-home playoff for a Finals slot. Those games will be played on Nov. 14 and 18.
In other CONCACAF hexagonal action: On Saturday, Chivas USA alumnus Paco Palencia made a very happy return for Mexico in the 4-1 win over El Salvador. "El Gatillero" was a late addition to El Tri, brought in to provide cover for the ailing Cuauhtemoc Blanco, and made the most of his opportunity. Palencia came into the game in the 78th minute and scored Mexico's third goal just eight minutes later as El Tri secured a spot in South Africa next summer. Former D.C. United midfielder Eliseo Quintanilla put in an 80-minute shift for El Salvador. Palencia was in Mexico's starting lineup for the trip to Trinidad & Tobago on Oct. 14. He played 55 minutes as El Tri rallied to gain a 2-2 and secure second place in the Hexagonal.
In other CONCACAF games on Wednesday, Carlos Pavon went from goat to hero for Honduras. After missing the penalty kick that would have tied the game against the U.S. on Saturday, the former Galaxy man scored the goal (a 64th-minute header) that gave Honduras a 1-0 win at El Salvador. That result, coupled with Costa Rica's tie with the U.S., gave Honduras a spot in South Africa. Ramon Nunez dressed but did not play for Honduras and Eliseo Quintanilla went the distance for El Salvador.
In other World Cup qualifying games around the globe: on Saturday, former D.C. United captain Ryan Nelsen led New Zealand at Bahrain in the first leg of their playoff encounter. Nelsen, who has struggled with knee and back injuries in the young EPL season, played the full 90 as New Zealand gained a 0-0 tie. Nelsen's fellow MLS alumnus, Tony Lochhead, also played the full 90, but the former Revs defender would probably be the first to acknowledge the pivotal performance of New Zealand's last line of defense, Mark Paston. The goalkeeper made a series of brilliant saves to keep Bahrain at bay. The second leg, which will decide a spot at the Finals in South Africa, will be played in New Zealand on Nov. 14.
In Europe, former MetroStars head coach Carlos Queiroz and Portugal did not control their own potential passage to the big show at the beginning of the final round of European qualifying. They faced a must-win doubleheader against Hungary and Malta and also needed help to gain a playoff berth. On Saturday, a 3-0 home win against Hungary combined with the required help of Sweden's 1-0 loss at Denmark, put the playoff ball back in Queiroz and his charges' court. Even without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, Queiroz's squad did the necessary work, knocking off Malta 4-0 on Wednesday to finish second in Group 1 (behind Denmark) and gain a playoff spot.
In other European action, Rapids alumnus Dedi Ben Dayan played the full 90 and scored Israel's second goal in a 3-1 home win over Moldova on Saturday. Dayan did not dress for Israel's 0-0 tie at Switzerland on Wednesday.
In African qualifying, former Chicago Fire defender Bakary Soumare played the full 90 as Mali beat Sudan 1-0 on a Frederic Kanoute goal on Oct. 11.
In South American qualifying on Sunday, former MetroStars midfielder Joselito Vaca came into the game in the 73rd minute for Bolivia in their 2-1 home win over Brazil. Vaca started for Bolivia in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at Peru.
Elsewhere around the world
While most top tier leagues took a sabbatical for the latest round of World Cup qualifying games, there were some MLS alumni in domestic action across the globe.
In Argentina, in Week 8 of the Torneo Apertura, former D.C. United Designated Player Marcelo Gallardo was a halftime substitute in River Plate's 3-1 home defeat by Independiente on Oct. 12. Gallardo scored River Plate's goal on a penalty kick in the 89th minute.
In Australia, in Week 10 of the Hyundai A-League, on Oct. 9, ex-FC Dallas striker Victor Sikora scored in the 80th minute to give Perth Glory a 1-0 home win over Adelaide United.
In Brazil, in Week 28 of the Campeonato Brasileirao, former MetroStars defender Danilo da Silva put in an 81-minute shift for Internacional in the 1-1 home tie with Atletico Paranaense on Oct. 10.
In England, on Oct. 10, in League One, ex-Toronto FC midfielder Andy Welsh went the distance in Yeovil Town's 2-2 home draw with Brighton and Hove Albion. The Glovers rallied from a two-goal deficit on a brace by Scott Murray.
In Portugal, on Oct. 12, former D.C. United starlet Freddy Adu made his first league start for Belenenses in their 1-0 home loss to CD Nacional de Madeira. Adu came out of the game at halftime.
Performance of the Week
With a tip of the hat to U.S. national team head coach
Bob Bradley
for leading his team to South Africa, the POTW goes to another former MetroStars head coach,
Carlos Queiroz
. In his second stint at the Portugal helm it seemed not too long ago that Queiroz would suffer the same fate as in his first go-around, failing to reach the World Cup Finals. That scenario is still possible, but after starting the campaign 1-1-2 and coming under severe criticism from the Portuguese media, Queiroz rallied his team. In 2009, Portugal has faced a series of "must not lose" games and they have not lost any of them, producing four wins and two ties to gain a playoff spot. While Queiroz's critics charge that a team stacked with the type of talent Portugal has at their disposal shouldn't be in such a predicament, the fact is that the head coach's players rallied around him. That speaks volumes for any coach, and when Sweden lost to Denmark on Saturday, Queiroz's players took advantage to keep their coach's, and their own, World Cup dreams alive by sweeping the Hungary and Malta doubleheader.
Mark C. Young is an Emmy Award-winning freelance writer/TV producer who has covered several FIFA World Cups and Olympic Games. He is a contributor to Goal.com and also writes for the blog "No Mas."
