SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Alvaro Saborio scored 79 seconds in, the second-fastest goal against the United States in a World Cup qualifier, and Costa Rica coasted to a 3-1 victory Wednesday night.
Celso Borges added a goal in the 13th minute, and Pablo Herrera sealed the victory for 41st-ranked Costa Rica when he made it 3-0 in the 69th.
Landon Donovan scored the U.S. goal when he converted a penalty kick in the second minute of second-half stoppage time.
It was a tough start to a difficult three-match stretch of qualifying for the No. 14 Americans. They next come home to Chicago, where on Saturday, they’ll host Honduras, the last team to beat them in a qualifier on U.S. soil. Then, on Aug. 12, the Americans play at Mexico, where they are 0-22-1.
Comcast, NBA strike a deal
PHILADELPHIA — Comcast Corp. has reached a new seven-year agreement that will add the NBA TV channel to the cable TV operator’s most popular digital tier of service before the start of next season.
• Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., urged the NBA to repeal its requirement that players be at least 19 years old and a year out of high school before entering the league, calling the restriction unfair.
• Cavaliers star LeBron James has been released from the Cleveland Clinic after a five-hour procedure to remove a benign growth from his jaw a day earlier.
• New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler had surgery to remove bone spurs in his left ankle and is expected to be sidelined at least a month.
• Boston Celtics guard Tony Allen has had surgery on his right ankle and leg and is expected to recover in time for training camp.
Gold will mean more green
COLORADO SPRINGS — U.S. wrestlers who win gold medalists at the 2012 Summer Games in London will earn a $250,000 bonus through the Living the Dream Medal Fund, a new incentive program that USA Wrestling hopes will lead to more success at the Olympics and the world championships.
The Americans won three wrestling medals at the Beijing Olympics, the worst showing since 1968.
Footnotes.
Boston Bruins forward David Krejci will have a little something to make him feel better when he goes in for surgery on a torn labrum in his hip today: a new three-year contract worth more than $11 million.
• The Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will have a new course in its rotation next year with the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula Country Club replacing Poppy Hills.
• Rain forced postponement (until Sept. 9) of NASCAR driver Tony Stewart‘s charity race at a dirt track he owns in Rossburg, Ohio.
• The Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA promoted assistant Jennifer Gillom to head coach after Don Zierden resigned to join Flip Saunders‘ staff with the Washington Wizards.
• Northwestern senior Hannah Nielsen, who led the nation with 142 points and 83 assists, has been chosen the top NCAA women’s lacrosse player for the second straight year.
The Associated Press
