WASHINGTON — Jonathan Bornstein headed in a corner kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time, giving the United States a 2-2 tie against Costa Rica on Wednesday night that put Honduras in next year’s World Cup.
Bryan Ruiz scored twice in a four-minute span midway through the first half to give Costa Rica a 2-0 lead, but Michael Bradley cut the U.S. deficit in the 72nd minute.
With the United States playing a man short after defender Oguchi Onyewu tore a tendon in his left knee and Costa Rica just 20 seconds or so from qualifying, Bornstein headed in a corner kick from second-half substitute Robbie Rogers from about 7 yards.
Onyewu fell down on the slick turf and was diagnosed with a torn patellar tendon, an injury that usually requires a recovery time of three to four months. Because the U.S. had used its three substitutes, he couldn’t be replaced.
The United States, which clinched a berth last weekend, topped North and Central America and the Caribbean for the second straight qualifying cycle by finishing one point ahead of Mexico, which tied 2-2 at last-place Trinidad and Tobago.
Honduras won 1-0 at El Salvador and qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1982, finishing ahead of Costa Rica on goal difference, plus-2 to even.
