Costa Rica win thriller

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Costa Rica, behind a superb hat-trick by star striker John Ruiz (16th, 45th, 75th), yesterday clipped El Salvador 3-2 in their breathtaking showdown at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay, to finish atop the standings in Group B of the 12-team CONCACAF Under-17 Championship.

In arguably the best game of the tournament to date, the two teams ran their hearts out in the midday sun but, in the end, the wily Ruiz, who has now scored four goals in the tournament, made the difference for Costa Rica.

Gerardo Iraheta (32nd) and Romel Mejia (47th) got the goals for El Salvador.

Both teams have qualified for the next round.

"It was a difficult game because our opponents played extremely well, but we were ready for them," said Costa Rica's coach, Luiz Diego Arnaez.

El Salvador's coach, Victor Pacheco, said: "It was a tough game, we played well and got two goals but that was not enough. We gave it everything."

US advance

Meanwhile, the United States qualified as a group winner for the quarter-finals in the late match yesterday when they clipped Panama 1-0 in the second-round Group B fixture at Jarrett Park.

Despite the loss, Panama, which completed their fixture with just one point, took the second qualifying spot from the group on goal difference over Cuba, who also finished their fixture with one point.

"This loss is like a win for us, because it still allowed us to qualify for the quarter-finals," said Jorge Dely Valdez, the coach of Panama.

The Americans enjoyed greater possession and were rewarded in the 48th minute, when Andrew Oliver went high for a cross before the goal and directed his header out of the reach of goalkeeper Ivan Picart, making the score 1-0.

"We came up against a Panama team that played like they wanted to get into the quarter-final," said United States' coach, Wilmer Cabrera.