[WORLD CUP QUALIFYING] Despite its strong start, which included a 3-1 home win over the USA, in the final round of World Cup qualifying, Costa Rica fired Coach Rodrigo Kenton after the Ticos lost their last three Hexagonal games, dropping them to fourth place. Thanks to four wins in their first five games, Costa Rica remains in position to qualify, but the Costa Rican federation showed its traditional impatience and will put a new man in charge for its final two games, at home against Trinidad & Tobago and at the USA.

 

Costa Rica's 1-0 loss at El Salvador last Wednesday marked its third scoreless game, following a 3-0 loss at home to Mexico and a 4-0 thumping at Honduras.

"I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Kenton for all of the work he has done," Costa Rica federation president Eduardo Li said. "But results are important, and we have not got the right ones over the course of our last three matches."

Costa Rica was in first place before its loss to Honduras. The top three teams from Concacaf qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. -- the USA, Mexico and Honduras currently hold the top three spots -- and the fourth place team iplays a two-leg playoff against the fifth place team from the South America.

Kenton won his first nine games at the Ticos' helm and guided them to a 15-2-3 record in his first 20 games. He leaves with a 15-5-4 record.

Costa Rica qualified for the last two World Cups.