La Sele Comes Up Short

OUT OF REACH – Paulo Wanchope (left), the star forward for the national soccer team, battles Mexico’s Rafael Márquez for possession Wednesday night in Mexico City in a 2006 World Cup qualifier match. Costa Rica lost not only the game, 2-0, but also its grip on a solid third-place rank in the six team final elimination round. Mexico stayed at number one with 16 points, followed by the United States with 15 points. Guatemala and Costa Rica tied with seven points, but Guatemala took third place because of the number of goals it has scored. Next, Costa Rica faces Panama Sept. 3 in an away game.