Bombazos keep Ticos in second place

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jun 19, 2013

[HEXAGONAL] Costa Rica remained in second place two points behind the USA in the Hexagonal with a 2-0 win over Panama before 35,000 fans at the Estadio Nacional thanks to goals from distance by Bryan Ruiz and Celso Borges in the first six minutes of the second half. The Ticos have not given up a goal since Clint Dempsey's first-half goal in the Snow Bowl in Colorado -- a span of 434 minutes -- and taken 10 of a potential 12 points in their last four games.

First place will be on the line when Costa Rica hosts the USA on Sept. 6. The Ticos can take over the lead with a win.

June 18 in San Jose
Costa Rica 2 Panama 0. Goals:
Costa Rica -- Navas, Gamboa, Umana, Gonzalez, Diaz, Borges, Rodriguez, Bolanos (Cunningham 65), Campbell (Calvo 83), Saborio, Ruiz (Roy Miller 86).
Panama -- Penedo, Parris, R.Torres, Baloy, L.Henriquez (Roderick Miller 75), A.Henriquez, Cooper, Escobar, Quintero (Barahona 58), B.Perez (G.Torres 69), Tejada.
Att.: 35,000.

Hexagonal Standings:
PTS TEAM W-T-L +/-
13 USA 4-1-1 7/3
11 Costa Rica 3-2-1 8/4
8 Mexico 1-5-0 3/2
7 Honduras 2-1-3 6/7
6 Panama 1-3-2 5/7
2 Jamaica 0-2-4 2/8

Sept. 6
Costa Rica-USA
Mexico-Honduras
Panama-Jamaica
Sept. 10
USA-Mexico
Jamaica-Costa Rica
Honduras-Panama
Oct. 11
USA-Jamaica
Mexico-Panama
Honduras-Costa Rica
Oct. 15
Panama-USA
Jamaica-Honduras
Costa Rica-Mexico