The United States rallied past Costa Rica 2-1 on Wednesday night
in a come from behind victory in the World
Cup qualifying game. Tim Weah scored his second international goal in the 66th
minute after Sergiño Dest started the comeback from a first-minute deficit.

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, one of nine new starters chosen by
coach Gregg Berhalter following Sunday’s dismal 1-0 loss at Panama, made a
costly headed clearance that led to Keysher Fuller’s goal just 60 seconds after kickoff, the
fastest goal conceded by the US in 23 years.

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Dest drew level for the United States in the 25th minute
when he curled a shot past Keylor Navas. Nevas strained an adductor muscle and
was replaced by Leonel Moreiera at the start of the second half.

Weah, a son of Liberia President and former FIFA Player of
the Year George Weah, wasn’t in the original starting lineup but was announced
just before kickoff in place of Paul Arriola, who injured his right groin. He
tied it when Weston McKennie passed to Dest, who dished to Weah. His long-range
shot bounced off a diving Moreira and inside the near post. Weah’s only other
goal was in an exhibition against Bolivia in May 2018.

The US has 11 points after six games of qualifying, with
eight games still to go.

A pro-American crowd of 20,165 attended the first
international match at $300 million-plus Lower.com Field, which opened in July.

Berhalter retained only 18-year-old midfielder Yunus Musah
and 21-year-old Weah from Sunday’s starters.

Chris Richards, a 21-year-old central defender, was given
his first competitive start as the Americans fielded their youngest lineup in a
World Cup qualifier at an average of 22 years, 229 days. That lowered the 23
years, 85 days from the 4-1 win at Honduras on Sept. 8.

Costa Rica started five players 32 and older. Navas made his
99th international appearance and Celso Borges his 144th. Ticos coach Luis
Fernando Suárez retained nine starters from Sunday’s 2-1 win at El Salvador.

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The Ticos scored after Steffen, the backup to Ederson at
Manchester City, headed the ball to the right flank but over Dest. Bryan Ruiz
kept the ball in with a backheel pass to Ronald Mattarita, who dribbled down
the side and crossed. Just outside the 6-yard box, Fuller volleyed with his right
foot, and the ball went in on two bounces inside the far post for his second
international goal.

The US had not conceeded that early since the Netherlands’
Ronald de Boer scored on a deflection off Alexi Lalas two minutes in after a
bad pass by Roy Wegerle set up a breakaway in a 2-0 Dutch win at Miami on Feb.
21, 1998.

Dest ended a streak of eight straight first halves without
an American goal.

(With AP inputs)