San Salvador, El Salvador (My Sportsbook) - Frankie Hejduk set up one goal and added the match-tying goal as United States rallied from two goals down to draw El Salvador, 2-2, on Saturday in 2010 World Cup qualifying.

Eliseo Quintanilla and Cristian Castillo gave El Salvador a 2-0 lead at Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, but Hejduk assisted on Jozy Altidore's goal in the 77th and then notched the tying goal in the 88th.

The United States sits alone atop the standings in the last round of qualifying in CONCACAF. Mexico topped Costa Rica 2-0 and Honduras tied Trinidad and Tobago 1-1 in the region's other matches.

The U.S. was missing two key starters - goalkeeper Tim Howard (suspension) and central defender Oguchi Onyewu (knee injury) - and 106th-ranked El Salvador was able to take advantage early.

El Salvador stunned the U.S. 15 minutes into the match when Quintanilla sneaked behind the American defense to score inside the left post.

Rodolfo Zelaya began the play with a little chip pass to Osael Romero, who then made a quick touch to free Quintanilla in the penalty area. The El Savadorian striker quickly shot the ball past backup goalie Brad Guzan for the first goal.

The United States had its best chance in the final five minutes of the opening half when DeMarcus Beasley sent a free kick to Brian Ching, who headed into the right side only to have the goal erased for offside.

Ching had another chance early in the second half but this time headed over the crossbar. The U.S. removed defender Heath Pearce in the 61st for Altidore, and the move eventually paid off, but not before El Salvador extended its lead.

Zelaya again played a part in the goal, serving a cross from the right sideline to Castillo, who jumped over a U.S. player to head a one-hopper past Guzan in the 72nd minute.

The U.S. responded to the 2-0 deficit within five minutes. Ching held the ball on the edge of the box and slid a pass to a streaking Hejduk on the right side.

Hejduk delivered a cross through the area that just missed Clint Dempsey's head and found Altidore at the far post. Altidore easily finished from just a couple yards to cut the deficit in half in the 77th.

The U.S. started putting a ton of pressure on El Salvador after Altidore's goal and Hejduk delivered the equalizer in the 88th.

Off a corner kick from the right side, El Salvador's Marvin Gonzalez jumped to meet the ball at the near post. His clearance header went nearly straight into the air, and Hejduk charged to the far post - nudging Altidore out of the way - to head in the tying goal.

The U.S., ranked 17th in the world, had a few chances to win the match in extra time. Ching had the two best chances, the first of which was a point-blank shot that El Salvador backup goalie Juan Jose Gomez saved, and the second was on a bicycle kick that was cleared off the line by defender Mardoqueo Henriquez.

Despite the scare, the U.S. - which beat Mexico in its first match of the final round of qualifying - is in position to finish atop the final group and easily qualify for the World Cup.

Qualifying continues Wednesday with the United States hosting Trinadad, Costa Rica hosting El Salvador and Honduras hosting Mexico.