What a trip!

I don't know how well it translated to television, but the atmosphere at RFK Stadium on Wednesday night -- even at half-full -- was as "electrifying as a hair dryer tossed into a bathtub", as Roy Hudson once cried.

Already charged up by Saturday's World Cup qualification and saddled with emotions from forward Charlie Davies' devastating car accident earlier in the week, the US crowd found even more to get loud about in the form of a dirty, dangerous and ultimately embarrassing Costa Rican soccer team.

It began innocently enough, with States striker Conor Casey blowing a chance to send the stadium into ecstasy. As fans held up handed-out "9" signs for Davies during the ninth minute, Casey ripped what should've been an easy goal over the net as the game clock struck 9:00. It was the first of an entirely forgettable and borderline offensive game for Casey, who played with the gusto of a chicken liver. You could've been convinced his cement shoes were on the take.

Maybe it was Costa Rica's defense, because Jozy Altidore was also pushed around a bit, but the other members of the mens team played dominating soccer save for a four-minute span that saw FC Twente striker Bryan Ruiz strike twice to put CRC up, 2-0.

It would've been easy for the Yanks to pack up and stay home, but they played inspired soccer against a team that refused to work for their World Cup berth, milking the clock with humiliating tactic after humiliating tactic. At one point, a defender was taken off the field on a stretcher, crossed the sideline, jumped off it and re-entered the game at the next opportunity.

While the Costa Rican fans celebrating, racing their flag around the 400-level of the stadium, even of the heads of American fans, the States kept plugging away. The U.S. kept switching fields and hammering crosses into the box. Down two goals at half, you could still be confident that the Yanks would come marching back, though America used stunning drama to do it.

Michael Bradley showed typical grit in the 72nd minute, pushing a ball into the CRC net and closing the gap to one, but the attack wasn't complete until Jose Francisco Torres entered the game to put extra calm in the midfield, and Casey was substituted with Kenny Cooper, who at least endeavored to be in the proper position to win 50/50 balls.

There were five minutes of added time, and the Yanks made sure to use every drama-drenched moment. Jonathan Bornstein's head met the equalizer off a corner kick, and the celebration was on at 90+5. With a Mexico draw and a Honduras win, the Yanks had claimed CONCACAF and sent Costa Rica into a playoff with Uruguay (Told you Argentina would qualify on its own, drama kings).

The crowd exploded along with the fireworks, and the celebration was on, players circling the field after skipper Carlos Bocanegra addresses the home fans. The players snagged posters from the stands honoring Davies, and Tim Howard wore a cowboy hat. It was incredible.

I have to go do my real job now, but good looks to the effort from our boys, especially Stuart Holden and Steve Cherundolo, who never quit running and hitting great balls into the box. Also, a nod to Landon Donovan, who never hung his head despite working himself into several wonderful opportunities, only to miss. It's going to be a fun ride next summer...

The States have only announced one international friendly so far, Nov. 18 in Denmark against the Danish squad. Twenty-three of the 32 teams that will play in SA2010 have qualified, and Denmark is one.

Safe and Sound to South Africa!

Before I get into my notes from Saturday night's qualifier, viewed quite pirate-like on the information superhighway, here's the recap I typed for my 9-5er at WGR in Buffalo:

The United States is the 19th nation to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after a thrilling 3-2 road victory in hostile Honduras.

Unlikely starter Conor Casey tallied twice as the States countered the game's first tally. His first goal came off an attempted header that connected with the top of his back and bounded into the Honduran net. The second came off a beautiful feed from Landon Donovan, who later scored off a free kick to put the States up, 3-1.

Honduras' Julio Leon made it interesting late, scoring his second of the game to halve America's lead, and the game looked all but tied when Jonathan Spector was whistled for a handball in the goal area late in the goings. Yet immensely talented Carlos Pavon sailed his penalty kick high, and missed on a late header a few minutes later, sending Honduras into a very dangerous spot if they want to end up in South Africa. With the political unrest in Honduras, here's hoping Pavon safety in his home nation.

The United States remains in first in the North and Central America qualifying group known as CONCACAF, and will likely need a win Wednesday against Costa Rica in Washington, D.C., to finish on top. It won't be easy, as Costa Rica will need a win to ensure a trip to South Africa, while Honduras will have to beat El Salvador and hope the Costa Ricans tie or lose to the States.

Joining the States in South Africa so far are:
Australia
Brazil
Chile
Denmark
England
Germany
Ghana
Italy
Ivory Coast
Japan
Korea DPR
Korea Republic
Mexico
Netherlands
Paraguay
Serbia
South Africa
Spain

32 teams in total will qualify for next summer's tournament.

QUICK THOUGHTS:

-- I'm genuinely worried for Pavon. Central America is all sorts of crazy, and he has put the Hondurans in a tricky spot. I hate the Honduran team, but maybe he can be a hero on Wednesday in El Salvador.

-- I was alarmed and upset by Bob Bradley choosing to play Casey, and I'm happy to peel several eggs off my face. What a long way I've come from wondering whether Bradley had the smarts to coach the team. His son was right and righteous with his summer anger.

-- Oguchi Onyewu made a couple brilliant tackles tonight to make up for later looking goofy on the second Honduras goal.

-- It was really good to see Landon Donovan get nutty off a free kick. The States really need that.

-- Stuart Holden made some sensational crosses and through balls. Way to go, Stu.

Rocktober: Do it or lose it

When my three friends and I head South to see the States tangle with Costa Rica on Oct. 14 in D.C., there's a solid chance it'll be the most important American soccer game since the 2006 World Cup.

If the States earns one point or less in Honduras on Oct. 10, they'll need another point to guarantee a berth in the World Cup, and Costa Rica have everything to play for.

Heading into that game in Honduras, a nation undergoing so much civil unrest that they've banned everything from freedom of speech to freedom to dress yourself without government superviasion, the table looks like this:

(First three qualify for WC, fourth place earns play-in game with fifth place team from CONMEBOL, who in my opinion will be Antonio Valencia's Ecuador squad).

1. US, 16 pts, +5
2. Mexico, 15 pts, +3
3. Honduras, 13 pts, +6
---
4. Costa Rica, 12 pts, -4
---
5. El Salvador, 8 pts, -2
6. T&T, 5 pts, -8

An extremely unlikely scenario could make it all moot for the States. If moribund Trinidad and Tobago can somehow topple Costa Rica in San Jose (the Costa Ricans beat T&T at T&T, 3-2, in their previous match-up), the States would be assured South Africa.

The Oct. 10 matchday features the two aforementioned games, plus El Salvador's trip to Azteca. In all likelyhood, CR, Honduras and Mexico come out on top, though the States chances at an upset are the best of the three visitors.

Here's how the table would look before the final match day (without goal differential):
1. Mexico, 18 pts
2. Honduras, 16 pts
3. US, 16 pts
---
4. Costa Rica, 15 pts
---
5. El Salvador, 8 pts
6. T&T, 5 pts

If you're a States fan hoping for qualification on the first matchday, hope for one of the following:
A) a win
2) a Costa Rican loss
D) a draw and a Costa Rican draw

Email: nicholas.mendola@gmail.com

Snooze Express Towards South Africa

Thanks to Ricardo Clark's stunning outward bender, the United States took all three points in Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday night, moving temporarily to the top of the CONCACAF qualifying table and coming to the verge of qualification for World Cup 2010.

The game was about as non-descript of a crucial win as you'll find, with ultra-homeless-looking Clint Dempsey's otherwise lackluster play the most remarkable aspect of the 1-0 American win. Luckily for the Yanks, Dempsey crossed a ball that Landon Donovan fed to Ric, who pounded home the game's lone goal.

The States win guarantees them no less than the CONCACAF/CONMEBOL playoff, which pits the No. 4 seed from the former against the No. 5 seed from the latter for one of the final World Cup slots.

I don't know if I can stay up any later, but in the 63rd minute, both the Mexico/Honduras and El Salvador/Costa Rica matches are scoreless. My calculations say we should hope to El Salvadorian and Honduran victories. I'll update everything else tomorrow (or tonight when I punish my morning my staying up).

States in danger? Not if we humbly opine...

Sometimes you have to let your credibility flag fly -- I can't talk at length about the States' 2-1 win over El Salvador at Rio Tinto because I was working myself into a spot via a wonderful variety of scotches and whiskies that will likely lead to me having to wear a disguise the next time I want to go to the splendid soccer bar that is Piper's Pub in Pittsburgh (I also left my red US track jacket behind. Hopefully whoever dealt with my handiwork earned that swell piece of attire as a reward. I'm sorry, Piper's. You have a truly great pub).

The States were superior enough to overcome a rare Tim Howard mistake and emerge with all three points. Landon Donovan hit two picture perfect passes to assist on both Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey's goals. As promised on Twitter, Altidore and Charlie Davies celebrated by doing their own version of the Stanky Legg. Nice.

Media-types are saying the States are in danger, but I'd place my worries at a relatively low and scientific 13 percent. Over three games, the States have to be one point better than one of three teams, and can all but ensure qualification with a win in Trinidad&Tobago this Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. The Yanks also have the second-best goal differential of the Top Four, at plus-4.

The Americans also have defender Edgar Castillo in the fold. The Tigres backliner had played in four friendlies for Mexico before requesting to align himself with the Red, White & Blue. He's been granted his request, and will be available beginning with the States' two October match-ups. Jermaine Jones has not yet been cleared to skip sides from Germany to America. According to Goal.com, FIFA is waiting for extra information from the German footballing federation.

Prediction for Wednesday: In home fixtures, T&T has taken all three points from El Salvador, just one from Honduras, and zero from then in-form Costa Rica. Look for the US to fall into the latter category, with a defender's goal off a corner, and an open field tally from either Davies or Altidore: States 2, T&T 0.