which then prompted technical director Juan Ramon Paredes to run onto the field and earn a red card of his own.
"Bruce always tells me and (Beasley) to come off the wings, and if it's open to run at people," Donovan said. "I think Conor (Casey) and (Ching) made some great runs and it opened things up. I think the defenders backed off. I don't think the goalkeeper ever saw it."
Donovan's goal came after Brian Ching struck for his second goal in as many World Cup qualifiers, first giving the USA a vital point with a last-minute equalizer in Kingston, then gave the USA a dream start in Foxborough when he headed home a Bobby Convey cross.
"Am I surprised he is getting goals?" U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. "I am not surprised if any of our forwards are getting goals. He is about the best goal-scorer in the MLS, along with Carlos Ruiz [of Los Angeles]. He is playing well for his club team and he scored a big goal in Jamaica. He warranted the opportunity to play."
For their part, Panama returned home to a great celebration from their public, after a remarkable win at the National Stadium in Kingston against a Jamaica side also reduced early to 10 men.
Roberto Brown gave the canaleros an early lead, but Chicago Fire striker Damani Ralph pulled the Reggae Boyz level. Yet veteran striker Julio Dely Valdes (Malaga, Spain) gave his country their first-ever victory in the second round of World Cup qualifying.
This is just the second time the full national teams of the two countries have played. The USA captured a 2-1 victory in Dallas, Texas in the group stage of the 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup, as Eric Wynalda and Thomas Dooley found the back of the net in the second half for the USA, canceling out a Percival Piggott first-half goal.
Three Panamanian starters from the Jamaica victory (Alberto Blanco, Victor Miranda, Luis Tejada) will be suspended through yellow-card accumulation for the USA match, but Panama technical director Jose "Cheche" Hernández will again have first-choice 'keepers Donaldo Gonzalez and Ricardo Phillips back from their bans - although young Jaime Penedo was stellar between the posts in Jamaica. In addition, Brown was feted by his coach.
"Brown won the majority of the balls in the air and that permitted us to have better effect in the attack zone," said Hernández.
El Salvador vs. Jamaica
Estadio Cuscatlan; San Salvador, El Salvador
7:30 p.m. (local)
Two teams that can surprise -- and were surprised in their last qualifier -- El Salvador and Jamaica face off on Wednesday in San Salvador in a match that both sides consider vital.
Jamaica was shocked at their usually impregnable home by Panama in the 2-1 loss at the weekend through a goal from Julio Dely Valdes in second-half stoppage time, after the Reggae Boyz seemed to have secured a second draw after a backheeled goal from Damani Ralph.
It was the first international goal for the young Chicago Fire striker, who came on as a second-half substitute. Los Angeles Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall had a particularly impressive match, filling two positions after the first-half expulsion of Ian Goodison.
El Salvador returns home without being able to build upon their opening victory against Panama, a bitter loss made even more so after the first-half sending off of young midfielder Denis Alas for wearing jewelry onto the field - which then led to the banning of technical director Juan Ramon Paredes when he ran onto the field to protest the decision.
"We're still in the fight and this week we entertain a Jamaica team that comes in having falling to Panama. We're still alive," Paredes said. "The truth is the group is very even. We don't need more than to take advantage of playing at home and keep giving battle whenever we play on the road."
Honduras vs. Guatemala
Estadio Olímpico - San Pedro Sula, Honduras
7:30 p.m. (local)
A pair of teams featuring two of the top players in MLS -- who also happen to be leading Group B in the semifinal round -- face off in San Pedro Sula at the Estadio Olimpico on Wednesday night.
After Los Angeles Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz hit for a double to give Guatemala a massive 2-0 win away to Canada to open the group, a pair of goals from their "golden man", Juan Carlos Plata, provided Guatemala a second successive victory last weekend, this time 2-1 against Costa Rica.
Honduras also continued their impressive form, claiming points on the road for the second successive match with a draw against Canada in Edmonton, thanks to MetroStars midfielder Amado Guevara.
"Our people didn't leave us alone in Costa Rica and Canada, they lifted us and as a home crowd they couldn't have been better and they turned into a 12th man for us," Guevara said.
Guevara's 88th-minute penalty kick, whistled by Mexican referee Benito Archundia after he ruled defender Mark Watson pulled down Oscar David Suazo, answered a Jason deVos goal just six minutes earlier and left Honduras with four points in the group, two behind Guatemala.
The chapines won their second successive game -- and sent 2002 World Cup finalist Costa Rica to their second defeat -- after new Chicago Fire signing Andy Herron was sent off for two bookings in the first 16 minutes.
"Defeating Costa Rica was important but we haven't secured qualification," said Guatemalan technical director Ramon Maradiaga. "What I yearn for more is to see two teams playing football and if they win someone who can take advantage of their opportunities."
Canadá vs. Costa Rica
Estadio Ricardo Saprissa - San Jose, Costa Rica
8 p.m. (local)
After suffering a second consecutive defeat, Costa Rica returns home to face an equally desperate Canada on the artificial turf of the Estadio Saprissa on Wednesday -- in what is truly a do-or-die situation for both teams.
Both teams came into the semifinal round with high hopes of advancement, but after a stunning 5-2 loss in Alajuela in their opener, Costa Rica went to Guatemala for their second match and were left a man down after just 16 minutes when Andy Herron -- the new signing by the Chicago Fire -- was sent off for two bookable offenses.
Still, Alonso Solis put Costa Rica in the 24th minute, but Juan Carlos Plata scored twice after the break to put the ticos in real danger of failing to reach the final hexagonal. Columbus Crew striker Erick Scott was a late substitute by Jorge Luis Pinto, but the Costa Ricans couldn't overcome the pressure and support from the home crowd.
Canada came away from two opening home matches with just a single point, though they were bitterly upset at the penalty two minutes from time that gave Honduras an equalizer for a 1-1 draw. In their opening semifinal round match, Carlos Ruiz hit for two goals in a 2-0 Guatemala win in Vancouver.
"I didn't touch him," former Revolution defender Watson said. "Thank God the games are televised now and everyone can see it for their own eyes. We could have had a very good victory and put us back in the group, and it was snatched away."
México vs. Trinidad y Tobago
Hasely Crawford Stadium - Port-of-Spain, Trinidad y Tobago
6 p.m. (local)
Mexico will finally begin their semifinal round campaign, after their opening match against St. Kitts & Nevis was postponed because of Mexico's participation in the Olympic Games, then their match at the weekend against St. Vincent & Grenadines was put off when the Caribbean side couldn't get to the match because of Hurricane Frances.
Even this match is threatened by a hurricane (Ivan) -- Mexico arrived in the twin-island republic on Monday, but saw their training session changed by the potential arrival of the latest storm.
On Saturday, Trinidad & Tobago won their second match in the semifinal round, claiming a 2-1 victory away to St. Kitts & Nevis in Basseterre. Errol McFarlane and former Columbus Crew striker Stern John hit the back of the net for Bertille St. Clair's side; MetroStars striker Cornell Glen was a late substitute.
The other match in the group is scheduled for Kingstown, as St. Vincent & Grenadines play host to Caribbean rival St. Kitts & Nevis.
