USA vs Costa Rica summary: score, goals and highlights Concacaf qualifiers
USA vs Costa Rica summary: scores, goals and highlights Concacaf qualifiers
The USMNT had seven changes coming to this game. For coach Gregg Berhalter the plan was to win at all costs. The team's pathetic game against Panama left a clear sign that things needed to change. The team did not enter the game in the best possible way. Before they could even settle on the pitch, the game was already 0-1.
Berhalter has some serious issues when it comes to creating chances, but fortunately for him and his team, the players were motivated, and it seemed like they could tie the game at any point, more because of their intensity rather than them creating a game plan.
That's when Sergiño Dest scored a goal from another match, maybe he saw his ex-teammate Lionel Messi way too many times, but it seemed to invoke him. Dest did a Messi, cutting inside and shooting with his left foot, just like Messi would do, and there was nothing that Keylor could do. The game had been tied.
The second half was a monologue from the USMNT, and it was a matter of time until they were up by one. Tim Weah, yes, the son of AC Milan legend George Weah. Only African player to win the Ballon d'Or, maybe his son can win it one day. But for now, a play with him and Dest, the U.S. best player, gave the team the 2-1.
The game was finished from that moment on, and Costa Rica never had a chance to tie the game. They were too defensive in the first half, and changing that mentality in the second half became challenging to accomplish.
For now, the U.S. and Mexico sit at the top of the table and will advance to the World Cup if they continue like this. Both teams will face each other next month to see who is the best team in the region.
The ref is about to wistle the 4 minutes of addition time
Corner for the US and they play short
Aaronson comes off for Zimmerman
Zardes comes in for Pepi
Bussio for Musah
The US is also making some changes
Venegas for Saborio
Fuller leaves for Watson
Bolanños for Duarte
Bolaños about to kick a center from the left to look at a header that could tied the game
Center from McKennie and Pepi misses the header!
The game is lost in injury from a Tico player. There is no clear dominant, but it's not clear how the Costa Rica team can tie the game
Costa Rica tries to buld up play but the US is not giving an inch. Seems a bit too late to try to play the game. Change from defense to attack quite fast is not easy
In goes Hoppe for Weah
Yedlin comes for Dest
Moya leaves and in comes Leal
Penalty!!!! but the ref waives on! Clear pkay where the keep brings the American player down
Tim Weah scores a close range effort after a defensive play that leave a ball right on his feet. The shot to the first post to put the game 2-1. And the keeper couldn't do anything
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Weah!!!!
The USMNT needs to do something at this point, the team has stopped creating chances. Robinson on the left has become the way tool they attack with
BRYAN RUIZ!!! All by himself and the keeper to beat! But Miles Robinson safes his mistake from a backpass that served Ruiz a goal on a silver platter. The Tico was too slow on what seemed an easy goa
Aaronson shoots but the Costa Rica keeper is there and safes an easy shot
Dest is injured and had to come off the field for a second
The second half gets on underway!
Incredible!!!!! Kyelor Navas injured and he will miss the second half. The PSG player felt something on his right shoulder and did not jump for the second half
At the half, the US team has been the better team. But they have yet to produce actual plays of goal, except from that shot from Dest and one play from McKennie.
The team needs to find better connections between their guys in the middle and the players on the outside like Weah. Because Pepi has yet to receive a play in advantage
Game over at the half in Columbus and the two teams tie 1-1
And the ref adds two more monutes
Center and Pepi heads the ball but Keylor is there and catches an easy ball
Steffen sends the shot from Borges to the corner and Blanco on his way to take it
Possible penalty for Costa Rica!! But the ref says play on. There is no VAR in Concacaf. Richardson slides at the last moment, when Ruiz as left against the keep and kick the ball at the right moment.
The US controls the game completely, Costa Rica can't pass the middle of the field on what is a total suppression of the Americans against the Ticos
What a goal from the Barcelona player!! Koeman is going to be happy to see this. From the edge, on the right, cuts to the inside and shoots with his left. No way Keylor Navas could reach that!!!
GOAL!!!!!!! WHAT A GOAL!! Dest ties the game for the USMNT!
Center from the right very close to the area, but Costa Rica defense clears the danger
Weah on the right to Ppei, and the defense to the throw in!!
McKennie shoots and the keep to the corner!!! The best play from the US team.
Dest on a fast break on the right and finds Weah, the center back and the defense kicks the ball out!
Costa Rica tries to touch the ball but the US keeps the pressure up and recovers the ball real fast. Los Ticos can't seem to keep the ball.
The USMNT starts to control the game and McKennie becomes the most important player of the team.
Matarrita centers the ball and the Fulle rcloses the pass with a nice volley
Goalllll!!!!!!! For costa rica in the first play of the game
Needless to say, this is a young team, and that the USMNT has a promising future ahead. The team is missing star players Christian Pulisic and Giovanny Reyna
Nice video of the staring guys for the U.S.
Coach Gregg Berhalter has introduced 7 changes from the team that lost against Panama
We have starting elevens for the UMNT! And the good news for some is that Ricardo Pepi will feature for the team from the start
The game starts at 7 pm ET in Colombus, Ohio
Hello folks, and welcome to our game coverage between the USMNT and the national team from Costa Rica. Both teams need a good result here tonight. The U.S. team comes from a devastating loss against Panama, while Costa Rica beat El Salvador in a comeback game that ended 2-1
For the U.S., everyone is expecting to see if Ricardo Pepi will start or miss one more game as he did against Panama.
On the other hand, Costa Rica will feature a team that is full of veterans mixed with new young blood. The team will rely on Celso Borges to dominate the middle and for Keylor Navas to be their savior once more.