The U.S. settled for a point in its second World Cup qualifier after watching a late lead disappear in a 1-1 draw in Guatemala.
Chicago Fire star Marco Pappa‘s free kick toward the upper-right corner in the 83rd minute left goalkeeper Tim Howard rooted to his spot, enabling the Chapines (0-1-1) to claim a point in their Group A home opener.
Clint Dempsey scored near the end of the first half for the Americans (1-0-1), who are atop their semifinal group on goal difference over Jamaica (1-0-1), which played a scoreless draw at Antigua & Barbuda (0-1-1).
ELSEWHERE: Hector Moreno nodded home a misplay by Salvadoran goalkeeper Benji Villalobos in the 82nd minute to lift Mexico to a 2-1 triumph in San Salvador. In the other Group B game, Real Salt Lake’s Alvaro Saborio scored a hat trick to lead Costa Rica past Guyana, 4-0. … Canada gained a point in Toronto, playing Honduras to a scoreless draw in Group C. Panama is atop the group after beating Cuba, 1-0, on Nelson Barahona‘s second-half strike.
2014 WORLD CUP QUALIFYINGCONCACAFThird roundTuesday’s results
GROUP A Guatemala 1 (Pappa 83), United States 1 (Dempsey 40)Antigua & Barbuda 0, Jamaica 0
Standings 1. United States 1-0-1 (4-2 GF-GA) 4 points2. Jamaica 1-0-1 (2-1) 43. Guatemala 0-1-1 (2-3) 14. Antigua & Barbuda 0-1-1 (1-3) 1
GROUP B El Salvador 1 (Pacheco 65), Mexico 2 (Zavala 60, Moreno 82)Guyana 0, Costa Rica 4 (Saborio 20, 26, 52, Campbell 77)
Standings 1. Mexico 2-0-0 (5-2) 62. Costa Rica 1-0-1 (6-2) 43. El Salvador 0-1-1 (3-4) 14. Guyana 0-2-0 (1-7) 0
GROUP C Canada 0, Honduras 0Panama 1 (Barahona 58), Cuba 0
Standings 1. Panama 2-0-0 (3-0) 62. Canada 1-0-1 (1-0) 43. Honduras 0-1-1 (0-2) 14. Cuba 0-2-0 (0-2) 0
