The USA and Costa Rica faced each other on the 14th of October 2009 in RFK Stadium located in Washington DC. The game ocurred before a crowd of 26,243 people.

While the USA already qualifed for the World Cup, they needed a win in order to be in first place in the CONCACF League. Costa Rica needed a win in order to earn a spot in the payoff berth.

The US Soccer team had the disadvantage of the absence of Davies [who was involved in an automobile accident]. During the first half, it appeared that the US Soccer Team would allow itself to be defeated by the Costa Rican side. The US appeared to make mistakes when it came to coordination and organiation within the game.

Costa Rica seized the moment to score two goals within the first thirty minutes of the first half while the USA attempted but failed to score. The first half was characterized by the USA also attempting to avoid further attempts by Costa Rica to score. The end of the first half resulted in USA 0-2 Costa Rica.

It appeared that during halftime, the US Soccer Team must have held a conference with how to deal with the Costa Rican onslaught. When both teams returned for the second half, the USA started to charge and electrify its game. The last 30 minutes of the game was dominated by the US Soccer Team and the expulsion of the coach of the Costa Rican Team due to a heated argument with the referees.

At 72 minutes, Rogers committed a crossing from the right wing with the ball heading towards Bradley and Donovan. Bradley finally did a direct kick and scored the first point for US Soccer. There were more attempts to score an equalizer but Bornstein did another direct kick almost to the end of the game to clinch the tie.

It appeared that both teams were doing their best while fatigue may have set in. The only difference was that Costa Rica had the energy in the first half and lost it. The US Soccer Team had energy but it appeared that it was used for the last moment. It is the last moments of a football [soccer] game that counts.