Costa Rica vs USA
CONCACAF 2018 World Cup Qualifiers – 5th Round.
Date: Wednesday, 16th November 2016.
Kick-off at 2:05 am UK,
Venue: Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San Jose.
The US national team will aim to get back on the saddle in the hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, as they head to Central America to face 2014 World Cup quarterfinalists Costa Rica on Tuesday evening. The teams enter the second matchday of the hex following vastly different results in the opening round, and both countries, among the favorites to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, will look to rack up points in their qualification quest.
The first two rounds of the hex are among the toughest of the 10-game gauntlet for the USMNT. Ahead of the Costa Rica trip, the Americans lost 2-1 to Mexico in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, their first ever loss to Mexico in that city in World Cup qualifying. Add to that a historic 10-game run of futility for the US in Costa Rica, and there's a very real possibility the Yanks could be on zero points through the first two matchdays.
Costa Rica, meanwhile, are off to a dream start, having beaten Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 on Friday in Port of Spain, Trinidad. While conventional wisdom in CONCACAF is that teams seek to pick up wins at home and grab rare points when they can on the road, the Ticos' road triumph puts them in the early lead in the hexagonal standings.
THE CASE FOR THE USA
Spirits may be dampened for the US national team after the late loss to Mexico -- the game was tied until the 89th minute -- but this team has been through trials before. In fact, this very USMNT under current boss Jurgen Klinsmann have been in this position before. They dropped their first match of the hex in 2014 World Cup qualifying, a 2-1 loss on the road against Honduras, before bouncing back with a home win over, yes, Costa Rica in matchday 2. And they ended up qualifying for the last World Cup fairly comfortably.
While there's a likely difference between facing Costa Rica at home and in Costa Rica, the US have enough talent to beat any team in CONCACAF. Yes, history shows it would not be an easy task, but there's nothing to suggest the Americans need to throw in the towel before they even reach Central America. And hey, if Mexico can turn back 15 years of losing history in Columbus against the Americans, who's to say the US can't do the exact same thing and reverse decades of negative history with a significant win in San Jose?
THE CASE FOR COSTA RICA
If Mexico and the US are the heavyweights of the region, Costa Rica are firmly nestled right below them at the moment, with talent, experience and tradition to upset conventional wisdom about the rest of CONCACAF.
They are not the same side that reached the quarterfinals in the 2014 World Cup, with Jorge Luis Pinto, the architect of the World Cup run, long gone, but Oscar Ramirez has steadied the ship since taking over last year, following a period of instability following Pinto's shock departure after the World Cup. Costa Rica had a disappointing Copa America Centenario this year, finishing third in the same group as the USMNT and failing to reach the knockout stage of the special tournament, but have won five straight since getting blown away 4-0 by the Americans in the Copa America group stage in June.
Ultimately, what can Costa Rica hang their hat on? They have proven to be difficult to beat at home. Make that impossible for the US, who enter the match with a 0-8-2 mark all-time against the Ticos in Costa Rica. Friday proved history can be overcome, but one figures the special Central American atmosphere will be relied upon, along with a stout collective effort, to hold back the Americans and keep that streak intact for another qualifying cycle.
Costa Rica vs USA: Head-to-Head Stats
The latest meeting between the two sides was at the Copa America Centenario tournament on June 2016. USA earned a massive 4-0 win to eliminate Costa Rica from the competition from the group stage.
There are no draws in the last 6 meetings between Costa Rica and USA and they share 3 wins each during the period. If you look at the extended history, only 3 from the last 15 meetings between the two sides in all competitions have seen draws.
Costa Rica on the other hand are unbeaten at home against USA in the last 9 meetings, picking up 8 straight wins from the last 8. USA’s last visit to Costa Rica ended in a 3-1 defeat on September 2013.
Costa Rica vs USA: Predictions
Costa Rica are arguably one of the most balanced sides in the CONCACAF zone. They also have a daunting record in home games and will push forward for another win on Tuesday evening. They are on a 5 match winning streak in all competitions and venues. At the same time, Costa Rica haven’t lost in their last 9 home matches in the qualifiers and kept 6 clean sheets.
USA are no pushover and they are a hard-working unit. But they have a poor record while playing away at Costa Rica. And this could once again result in a bad day at office for Klinsmann and co.
Costa Rica vs USA: Bet Tips
Costa Rica to win at 2.30 (13/10)
Over 2.5 goals at 2.20 (6/5)
Both Teams to Score at 1.90 (9/10).
