It was about an hour after the full time whistle in Columbus, and the US men's national team was once more coming out of the tunnel to the cheers of the many supporters who had stuck around. This time, however, no soccer was involved - simply celebration. They had already done their job, beating Mexico 2-0 thanks to goals from Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan, and awaited the result of the Honduras-Panama match to know whether or not they had officially punched a ticket through to the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer. But we know that story. Here's the rest of what happened, with a focus on the three Dynamo players involved.
As many people suspected would happen, Brad Davis suited up for the US-Mexico match, but did not see any playing time. Instead, his talents were instead utilized chronicling some of the aftermath:
I guess that's a fair use of an emergency callup - out of the four players named to the squad last Saturday, only Clarence Goodson saw the pitch, but again, that was pretty much expected, as these guys were the emergency damage control for a squad knocked with injuries and suspensions.
The match that was played simultaneously to US-Mexico was Jamaica-Costa Rica. Los Ticos sat atop the Hex for about four days, thanks to their 3-1 win against the US last Friday in San José, and a 74th minute goal made it look like they would hold their serve and keep pace atop the group. Yet an equalizer by Jermaine Anderson in stoppage time - off an assist by our own Jermaine Taylor - earned the Reggae Boyz a point and meant that the US, who finished a few minutes later, would go back on top.
That left the late match of the night, Honduras-Panama. A win or draw for Honduras - very likely in Tegucigalpa - would send both the US and Costa Rica through to Brazil, while a Panama win would mean that both would only be assured of at least the fourth place finish, good enough for that November home and home tie with New Zealand for a spot in Brazil. Boniek Garcia started for the Catrachos and played 82 minutes before being substituted off, having made no mark on the scoresheet (beyond the smile I'm sure was etched on his face). However, another stoppage time goal - this one from Gabriel Torres of Panama - was enough to earn the Canaleros a much needed point.
So CONCACAF is not yet settled. All six teams still have a chance heading into the last two matches - though Jamaica can only get in through the New Zealand tie (and only then with a lot of help), but at this moment, the American and Honduran Dynamo players can sit comfortably knowing their sides are either through, or have one foot in the door.
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