LOS ANGELES, Oct 14, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - Timothy Weah set up the
winner as the United States came from behind to defeat Costa Rica
2-1 and reignite their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign on
Wednesday.

    Weah, who plays for French champions Lille, was drafted into
the US starting line-up shortly before kick-off after D.C.
United's Chris Arriola suffered an injury in the warm-up.

    The 21-year-old son of Liberian football icon George Weah was
instrumental in the winning US goal, picking up a pass from
Barcelona wingback Sergino Dest and rifling a shot towards Costa
Rica goalkeeper Leonel Moreira's near-post.

    Weah's effort cannoned off the woodwork and ricocheted off
Moreira and into the net for an own goal on 66 minutes.

    It completed a well-earned comeback for US coach Gregg
Berhalter's young side, who recovered after falling behind inside
the first minute from Keysher Fuller before Dest's 25th-minute
equalizer.

    The win in Columbus, Ohio, gave the United States 11 points
from six matches, three behind Mexico after El Tri's 2-0 victory
over El Salvador in San Salvador.

    "The team dug in and stuck together and I was really happy
with the performance after conceding the first-minute goal," US
captain Tyler Adams said.

    The United States had suffered an upset 1-0 away defeat to
Panama on Sunday, when Berhalter was criticized for making seven
changes from the team that beat Jamaica last week.

    Against Costa Rica on Wednesday, Berhalter returned to the
nucleus of the team that had brushed aside Jamaica, making 10
changes, and his team looked a more threatening and dynamic unit
as a result.

    The line-up was also the youngest ever US team to start a
World Cup qualifying match, with an average age of 22 years and
229 days.

    But the Americans were given a fright early on when a swift
counter-attack by Costa Rica saw Ronald Matarrita beat Dest down
the left flank before crossing to the far post for Fuller to
volley home from inside the area.

    The setback galvanized the United States, however, and they
dominated possession for long periods before drawing level midway
through the half.

    Weah broke down the left and played a deep cross that found
Yunus Musah on the opposite flank. The Valencia midfielder laid
off to Dest, who cut in and rifled a left-footed shot into the top
corner past Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas.

    The United States will try to build on the victory when they
host Mexico on November 12.

    Mexico maintained their lead in the eight-nation final
qualifying group with a victory over El Salvador in a bruising
encounter that saw both teams reduced to 10 men in the second
half.

    Mexico centerback Hector Moreno headed in a corner kick in the
30th minute.

    Raul Jimenez sealed the win with a penalty in second-half
stoppage time.

    - Canada top Panama -

    Canada moved into third in the standings on 10 points with an
impressive 4-1 victory over Panama in Toronto, a victory keyed by
Alphonso Davies's impressive 66th-minute strike.

    The Bayern Munich star put Canada in front when he surged down
the right flank and got control of a ball headed out of bounds.

    He eluded defender Fidel Escobar and fired a low shot past
Panamanian goalkeeper Luis Mejia for a 2-1 Canada lead.

    Panama had seized the lead in the fifth minute through Rolando
Blackburn.

    The hosts equalized in the 28th when Davies's corner kick was
headed toward the goal by Tajon Buchanan, deflecting off the body
of Panama's Michael Murillo who was charged with an own-goal.

    Buchanan added a goal in the 71st minute and Jonathan David
capped the scoring in the 78th.

    Jamaica notched their first victory of the campaign -- a 2-0
victory over Honduras in San Pedro Sula.