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Sadsack Canadians drop final game
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (CP) -- Canada ended a miserable round of World Cup qualifying with an equally lame effort Sunday, dropping a 3-1 decision to Costa Rica.It was the last match for both teams in CONCACAF qualifying, and neither side came close to earning a berth for the 1998 World Cup in France next summer.
The Costa Ricans (3-4-3) made good on a pledge to regain a measure of dignity in from last match, and left the Canadians in the basement of the six-nation conference at 1-6-3.
"I think today's result was almost redundant," said Canadian coach Bob Lanarduzzi. "I would have liked to have finished with a win, but tring to get players up for a game that has nothing a stake is always difficult."
Star goalkeeper Craig Forrest and striker Paul Peschisolido were among the notables who didn't make the trip to San Jose.
Costa Rica took an early 2-0 lead before Canada scored early in the second half. A late goal off a penalty shot made the final 3-1.
"I was pleased with the way we battled back in the second half," Lenarduzzi said. "Under the circumstances, it would have been easy to throw the towel, so we did show some character."
Canada's only win came against Costa Rica on June 1 at Edmonton, when Eddy Berdusco's goal gave the home side a 1-0 win.
Lenarduzzi, on the hot seat for Canada's failure to qualify, said he would meet with Canadian Soccer officials today to discuss his future.
"There'll be an announcement by the middle of next week," he said.
Jamaica, meanwhile, became the first Caribbean team to qualify for the World Cup in 24 years by holding Mexico to a 0-0 tie Sunday in front of a wildly celebrating crowd in Kingston, Jamaica.
The one point gained from the tie gave Jamaica's Reggae Boyz 13 points in the CONCACAF round, guaranteeing the third qualifying position for the North and Central American and Caribbean region. Mexico and the United States had already won the other two spots.
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GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan