Costa Rica 3, Guatemala 2 in World Cup Qualifier
Costa Rica blew a late two-goal lead, but a 90th-minute score by striker Paulo Wanchope saved the home team, 3-2 against Guatemala in World Cup qualifier Wednesday.

Carlos Hernandez scored in the 34th minute and when Ronald Gomez made it 2-0 in the 66th, Costa Rica appeared headed for an easy victory.

But Edwin Villatoro cut the lead in the 75th minute and Mario Ramirez stunned the crowd at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium by tying it two minutes later.

Costa Rica spent much of the night pressing on offense and the strategy paid off when a give-and-go between Gomez and Wanchope ended in a penalty kick. Hernandez easily converted for a 1-0 advantage.

More crisp passing helped Gomez get open in the 66th minute to stretch the advantage to two goals.

That's the way things stood until the 75th minute, when Villatoro pounced on a loose ball deep inside the Costa Rican zone and fired from close range past goalkeeper Alvaro Mesen.

Just two minutes later, Ramirez found a window of daylight ahead of advancing defenders and got the angle he needed to make it 2-2.

Just before injury time, Wanchope made the winner look routine, taking a pass off a set offense and drilling the shot.

With the win, Costa Rica (2-2-1) took sole possession of third place in the region with seven points, behind Mexico with 13 and the United States, which has 12.