Here’s Megan Swanick’s full report from tonight’s match at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica.
Final Concacaf World Cup qualifying standings
28 Canada (goal difference +16)
28 Mexico (+9)
25 USA (+11)
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25 Costa Rica (+5)
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21 Panama
11 Jamaica(-10)
10 El Salvador(-10)
4 Honduras(-a lot)
After all that fuss and clamor over Tata Martino’s job, Mexico finished with 28 points.
And the four points the USA took from Mexico look pretty good right now, especially after the team dropped points to El Salvador, Jamaica and Panama.
The so-called Golden Generation has made it through one of the biggest grinds in the sport. The experience will only help them.
So now they move on to their biggest challenge -- negotiating a collective bargaining agreement that guarantees equal pay with the women.
And then the World Cup, assuming immunological and sociopolitical issues don’t infringe on the party.
Good night, good morning, and enjoy the rest of your club seasons.
David Archibald writes: Bad news: There is no bad news. Costa Rica will easily beat New Zealand. I suppose you were that confident that Italy would beat North Macedonia too? A one off game. Don’t forget, NZ hasn’t lost a game at the WC since 1982. (See I can make stupid comments too :-0)
Berklee College of Music football. Still unbeaten.
FWIW, I was present when New Zealand’s women earned their first point at the World Cup with a late two-goal comeback against Mexico.
The coach of that New Zealand team? John Herdman. He now coaches the top men’s team in Concacaf, even if their equalizer in Panama was taken away by VAR.
Full time: Costa Rica 2-0 USA
Give some credit to Costa Rica, which I’ve already predicted will easily beat New Zealand and qualify for the World Cup yet again, but that’s two straight games in which their home mystique, rather than the players, accounted for their win. They’re not better than Canada, whom they beat six days ago, and they were not better than the USA tonight.
The narrative forming already is that the USA barely qualified. And that’s basically true. But this team improved through the cycle, arguably outplaying three of their top four opponents (two on the road) in their last three games.
Berhalter needs to come up with some better ideas on set pieces, and the goalkeeping job is wide-open. Better to learn that now than later.
Oh -- and the US men have qualified for the World Cup.
Cameron Parkhurst emails re: Pulisic - “From what I observed most of his free kicks and corner kicks were poorly taken tonight. The corners were generally hit too long.”
They did at least have Miles Robinson open on a couple of those long corner kicks early, but Costa Rica figured that out eventually, and the rest of the free kicks and corners accomplished nothing.
90 min: We’ll have four minutes of stoppage time. So if Costa Rica can score one goal per minute ...
88 min: I think we can agree the USA is about to qualify for the World Cup unless the referee decides to add about 30 minutes of stoppage time.
86 min: De la Torre springs free and puts in a tame effort.
Costa Rica races the other way, and Martinez gets just enough space to put in a decent shot. Steffen gets the save.
Canada now tied with Panama.
84 min: And that’s all for Pulisic. Jordan Morris is in.
Good performance from the Chelsea man aside from the set pieces.
81 min: “US in search of a consolation goal,” our commentators say. Let’s get this straight. Costa Rica getting four goals in barely more than 30 minutes was feasible, but the USA getting two in 10 is impossible?
A goal in the next few minutes is not “consolation.” It’s a comeback.
But the pace has slowed. Both teams may be resigning themselves to their fates.
80 min: Also, Jose Ortiz replaces Bennette.
78 min: Keylor Navas has come off.
Tweaked his leg getting his foot to the ball on that US attack earlier. Esteban Alvarado is the replacement.
That’ll improve the odds of the USA getting a deserved result here.
77 min: Fair point about dead legs here ...
The team that didn't really rotate ran out of gas in the second half? Weird.https://t.co/KWh7MYFke3
— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) March 31, 2022
That said, the USA has been the more active side for the last 20 minutes as much as it has been the whole game.
Meanwhile, Keylor Navas has to get attention from the trainers.
75 min: Every minute that ticks away reduces the chances of any drama in terms of qualification, but the big takeaway here may be Zach Steffen losing the goalkeeping job:
Zack Steffen completely out of position for Costa Rica's goal. Next 30 minutes will be a good test for US in what could be a wild ending.
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) March 31, 2022
🎥 @CBSSportsGolazo pic.twitter.com/onZs8OOMvM
71 min: Or not. The USA maintains possession, Reyna plays Pulisic into space on the left, it’s crossed back to the top of the box, and Musah blasts a shot deflected out for a corner.
The corner kick, of course, is squandered. The USA has conceded two goals on set pieces and shown little sign of scoring on their own. Blame a decade of US youth coaching in which working on set pieces was considered bad for development.
70 min: Somewhere along the way, Yeltsin Tejeda replaced Waston. Ah, Boris Yeltsin. Simpler times.
Free kick coming up that will be squandered.
69 min: Foul called on Ferreira for ... standing in Navas’ way. Seems harsh.
68 min: Speaking of Pulisic, the USA earns its eighth and ninth corner kicks.
Douglas Lopez makes his debut for Costa Rica, replacing Brandon Aguilera.
The corner kicks accomplish nothing.
Brad Wilson writes: “Being an USA fan who doesn’t give a damn about Chelsea, rather the opposite, I hope Pulisic plays until his manager deems a substitution advisable, if ever. Poor megaclubs whining about international football ... my heart breaks.”
Normally, I’d agree, and I think there’s too much international football. But this is a crowded international window, and Pulisic just has a target on his legs. Forget Chelsea -- US fans also don’t want to see him hurt.
66 min: Adrian Martinez replaces Mora.
CBS commentators hyping the possibility of Costa Rica daring to dream now. I’m one of the biggest pessimists in the world, and I don’t see it happening.
63 min: Finally, a yellow card for a foul on Pulisic, who is still in there. Mora is the unlucky party.
Former MLS defender Kendall Waston is down for Costa Rica.
OK, at last, those USA subs are ...
Gio Reyna for Weah (pity -- I’d love to see them together)
Jesus Ferreira for Pepi
Shaq Moore for Yedlin, a bit surprising since Yedlin should be fresh after missing the last game.
61 min: USA subs ...
Several. Our feeds are painfully slow with such news, but I’ll update.
GOAL: Costa Rica 2-0 USA (Contreras 59)
Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. Steffens handles a set piece badly. He saves the follow-up, but the ball bounces clear, and a mishit cross lands on the feet of two Costa Rican attackers kept onside by a defender at the other post. Yeesh.
Shocker in Panama ... the home side is up 1-0 on Canada. Sure, the game means little to the group winners, but ...
57 min: Navas parries a Pepi shot.
That’s six shots on goal for the USA to two for Costa Rica. Safe to say Navas has been the more impressive of the goalkeepers on the field.
55 min: USA reasserting control of the game, having given up a goal very much against the run of play.
The Costa Rican team and crowd surely know they’re not qualifying tonight, but beating the USA is always a point of pride, hence the long celebration ...
Unreal noise in San Jose.
— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) March 31, 2022
The moments after Costa Rica went ahead. Borges, Calvo and Fuller in the foreground. pic.twitter.com/PrFLpxW83M
GOAL: Costa Rica 1-0 USA (Vargas 51)
Corner kick, man streaking through the box unmarked, header, goal.
Getting five more still seems unlikely, but the USA’s chances of breaking their losing streak in Costa Rica just took a hit.
48 min: CHANCES for the USA. Free kick finds Miles Robinson, whose header forces a good leaping save from Navas. Weah can’t quite get enough on his shot to poke it through, but the danger still isn’t cleared until Zimmerman puts his shot over the bar.
46 min: Luca de la Torre, who made a good impression against Panama, has replaced Tyler Adams, who shook off an early injury but probably doesn’t need to take any more chances now.
Costa Rica fouls ... Pulisic. You guessed it. This is why persistent infringement exists in the Laws.
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The doors keeps closing for Costa Rica ...
Mexico’s now up 2-0 on El Salvador.
Jamaica is up 2-1 at home against Honduras in a matchup of the bottom two in the eight-team group.
The most surprising halftime score on paper is 0-0 in Panama, but the hosts have been eliminated and visiting Canada will win the group.
Halftime: Costa Rica 0-0 USA
Somehow, I don’t think Costa Rica is going to get six goals. The visitors have actually looked like the more likely team to score.
🇺🇸 The #USMNT is tied at halftime in Costa Rica for the first time since 1992, and for the first time in World Cup qualifying since 1985.
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) March 31, 2022
🇨🇷 Costa Rica led at half in their eight previous home games vs the U.S.
44 min: Another USA corner kick.
#USMNT with almost 60 percent of the possession in Costa Rica so far. Wasn’t expecting that.
— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) March 31, 2022
42 min: On the question of when to sit Pulisic -- there’s no need to worry about yellow-card accumulation, per World Cup regulations:
Single yellow cards and pending suspensions as a consequence of cautions received in different matches in the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ are not carried over to the final competition. Pending match suspensions imposed as a result of a direct or an indirect red card in matches in the preliminary competition of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ are carried over to the final competition.
Meanwhile, for the sake of variety, Costa Rica fouls Weah rather than Pulisic.
40 min: Steffen is called into action again to punch a Costa Rican corner clear.
If you’re wondering if the fact that we can hear US coach Gregg Berhalter yelling from the bench is a sign of the home crowd going quiet or Berhalter just being that loud, the answer is yes.
38 min: While we’re in a lull in what has been a better game than expected, vote in my poll, won’t you?
If you're Chelsea, you want Christian Pulisic out of the game ...
— Beau Dure 🇺🇦🏳️🌈🕊🔬 (@duresport) March 31, 2022
35 min: Costa Rica finally gets a shot on goal, with Brandon Aguilera letting one rip from outside the box, but Steffen isn’t troubled.
33 min: Yedlin somehow beats his man on the right and fires in a cross. Turns out the ref was playing advantage, because Costa Rica fouled, you guessed it, Christian Pulisic. Chelsea management must hate these games.
30 min: Some danger now, with Bennette controlling the ball on the left flank and unleashing a decent cross.
The USA regains possession, and Antonee Robinson shanks a cross ... toward the far upper corner of the goal, where Navas has to tap it over for another corner kick. This one yields another strong shot, but it doesn’t get through the traffic, just like DC drivers dealing with the truckers’ convoy. Or DC drivers every other day.
27 min: Jedi Robinson takes off to lead a USA counter. Costa Rica is gambling with this press, but they have to.
Speaking of presses -- stop the presses. Christian Pulisic has been fouled.
25 min: Extended possession for Costa Rica now. Obviously, I spoke too soon. But the ball floats into the area, and a header arcs up into the sky before falling into Steffen’s arms.
Here’s your Mexico goal:
Uriel Antuna gets the party started for Mexico 🇲🇽💥 pic.twitter.com/eYkG9cUeha
— Watch Costa Rica vs USA on Paramount+ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 31, 2022
And here’s a not-goal in Costa Rica:
Miles Robinson got close 👀 pic.twitter.com/sD3B7Jwi3y
— Watch Costa Rica vs USA on Paramount+ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 31, 2022
22 min: Another corner kick, and it once again finds Miles Robinson. His header sails well over the ball.
Tyler Adams, apparently feeling a bit better, breaks up a Costa Rica attack.
Has the USA had a better quarter of a game in Costa Rica in the last, I don’t know, 10 years? 20? Ever?
20 min: GOOOOOOOOAAALL ...
... in Mexico. 1-0 for the home side, further damaging Costa Rica’s second unlikely path to qualification tonight.
19 min: Eat my shorts ...
The only thing running longer than Antonee Robinson is The Simpsons.
— Matthew Tomaszewicz (@shinguardian) March 31, 2022
So far, the USA is coping well with the Costa Rica press. Will that change as fatigue from a busy international window sets in?
17 min: Musah is tripped ... well, no, he’s not, but the ref thought he was ... about 25 yards out, and it’s a free kick. Acosta takes it despite the presence of Pulisic, and it slams into the wall.
15 min: Your score updates from other Concacaf games: 0-0, 0-0, 0-0.
Like the old joke says -- “I can tell you the score of any game before it starts.”
13 min: CHANCE and it’s Weah setting things up again, springing Pepi in the box. It’s an acute angle, but Pepi forces Navas to make another save. And it’s another corner kick.
10 min: The first significant Costa Rica attack yields a corner kick. Zimmerman clears. A follow-up shot zips just over the bar.
Now Costa Rica unleashes a vicious press. Could be a great counterattacking opportunity if the USA can create some space.
8 min: CHANCE for the USA, and that stung Navas’ hands. The corner kick sails over the crowd to Miles Robinson, who has a little bit of time to settle the ball and rip a scorching ball on target. Navas spills it toward the goal but has plenty of time to collect.
If you believe the best defense is a strong offense -- first of all, you’re right, and second of all, you’re happy so far. (If you’re rooting for the USA.)
7 min: Tim Weah gets his first meaningful touches, and he already looks dangerous. Hard to believe the USA racked up five goals without him. Corner kick now.
6 min: Some bad news for the USA now -- Tyler Adams, the midfield engine, is moving around in some discomfort. Possible subs are warming up.
4 min: Make it two shots on goal from the USA, though neither has particularly troubled the longtime Real Madrid goalkeeper. This one is a Miles Robinson header off a Pulisic corner.
2 min: A half-chance for the USA, with a cross from “Jedi” Robinson (sometimes called Antonee) catching Ricardo Pepi in a tight space in the area, and his shot is lobbed into the air and caught by Navas.
Yes, we’ll keep an eye on the Mexico-El Salvador game just in case the unthinkable happens and Costa Rica can advance ahead of Mexico.
Kickoff in Costa Rica, where the crowd doesn’t seem to realize their team more or less conceded direct qualification already. But they may still get a result, which they would surely celebrate.
National anthems ...
Lots of whistling during the USA anthem.
Costa Rica’s team could use some singing lessons.
And now ... fireworks.
Further underscoring the B-team feel of the Costa Rica lineup:
The intent here from the USMNT is to leave no doubt.
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) March 31, 2022
Costa Rica's focus is on New Zealand.
Field players in the starting XIs during WC qualifying
Appearances: USA 86; CR 30
Minutes: USA 5,884; CR 1,268
Waston accounts for 10 appearances, 570 mins for CR. https://t.co/6GDFQUhJWv
Costa Rica lineup
There’s a hitch here. Nine players are facing yellow-card accumulation-related suspensions, and Costa Rica is very likely to have one more qualifying game. It’s safe to say that affected selection.
Of the 9 available Costa Rica players on a yellow card...
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) March 31, 2022
🇨🇷 1 starts tonight (Bennette)
🇨🇷 5 on the bench (Campbell, A. Martinez, Oviedo, Ruiz, Venegas)
🇨🇷 3 not in the squad (Borges, Calvo, Fuller)
So the object appears to be to sit back and see what transpires. If Los Ticos somehow conjure up a few goals, they can toss Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell into the mix. If not, well, with no major players suspended, they can take care of New Zealand.
Lineup ...
Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Ian Lawrence (Alajuelense), Juan Pablo Vargas (Millonarios), Kendall Waston (Saprissa), Daniel Chacon (Cartagines), Carlos Martinez (San Carlos)
Midfielders: Brandon Aguilera (Alajuelense), Orlando Galo (Herediano), Jewison Bennette (Herediano), Carlos Mora (Alajuelense)
Forward: Anthony Contreras (Guanacasteca)
As expected, most of Costa Rica’s top attackers are on the bench due to the threat of a potential yellow card suspension for the intercontinental playoff #USMNT pic.twitter.com/vXKzni9rhF
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) March 31, 2022
USA lineup
This is no B team. It’s arguably better than the starting XI that beat Panama 5-1, thanks in part to the return of DeAndre Yedlin and Tim Weah.
The captain is an interesting choice -- not Christian Pulisic or Tyler Adams but Walker Zimmerman.
Starters ...
Goalkeeper: Zack Steffen (Manchester City)
Defenders: DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Yunus Musah (Valencia)
Forwards: Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Tim Weah (Lille)
Preamble
Let’s look at this game from Costa Rica’s point of view ...
Good news: This game is in Costa Rica, where the home team has beaten the USA in 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2016.
Bad news: Costa Rica needs to beat the USA by six goals.
Good news: Costa Rica beat the USA 4-0 in 2016.
Bad news: Jürgen Klinsmann is no longer the USA’s coach. That 2016 defeat was one of the last straws.
Bad news: Four is still less than six.
Bad news: Costa Rica has only scored 11 goals in 13 World Cup qualifiers. (That’s why they’re in this position in the first place.)
Good news: Costa Rica can still get in with a win, a Mexico loss and a four-goal swing in goal difference.
Bad news: Mexico is playing at home. Against El Salvador.
Good news: The fourth-place Concacaf team will face Oceania champion New Zealand in an intercontinental last-chance qualifier.
Bad news: There is no bad news. Costa Rica will easily beat New Zealand.
Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how the US got on against Panama:
With all due respect to the Disney marketing department, the most magical place on the planet was a few miles northeast of Orlando’s theme parks on Sunday night.
That’s how Exploria Stadium must have felt to the US and their exuberant fans, at least, as a Christian Pulisic hat-trick helped deliver a 5-1 thrashing that hoisted Gregg Berhalter’s men to the brink of Qatar 2022. A tricky and occasionally torturous qualifying campaign is now all but certain to enjoy a happy ending.
Of course, the US know from agonising experience that weird things can happen on the final night of Concacaf qualifying, after an easy win over Panama at the home of Orlando City. But in all probability this will not be a case of history repeating. Unlike in 2017, the US can afford a loss in their final fixture, away to Costa Rica on Wednesday. In fact, they can afford a big loss. Even a five-goal defeat would not be fatal given the gap in goal difference between them and Costa Rica in fourth.
The result eliminated fifth-placed Panama from contention, meaning that the US can finish no lower than fourth, the rank that entails an intercontinental playoff in Qatar in June, probably against New Zealand.
