South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Lletget supplies big 2nd-half lift to U.S.
Sub’s late goal, assist helps take down Costa Rica
A header by defender Sebastian Lletget in the 80th minute broke a scoreless tie and sent the U.S. on its way to a victory over Costa Rica on Saturday.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The field was soggy from overnight rain, but the announced 13,656 fans who braved the conditions at Avaya Stadium on Saturday afternoon were treated to a scintillating second-half performance by the United States men’s soccer team.
A pair of late goals secured the home team’s 2-0 victory over Costa Rica.
Sebastian Lletget, who entered the game as a second-half substitute, energized the U.S. and opened the scoring in the 80th minute. He then assisted on the second goal, a breakaway by Paul Arriola in the 88th minute, to help put the match away and earn Lletget the Man of the Match title.
It was the second win in a row for the U.S. and new head coach Gregg Berhalter, and it capped a solid month of training to open the national team’s 2019 campaign.
Berhalter made two changes to his starting lineup from Sunday’s 3-0 win against Panama, substituting Wil Trapp for Michael Bradley and Arriola for Jeremy Ebobisse. Forward Gyasi Zardes was the senior member of the team, making his 42nd appearance, more than twice as many as the next most experienced player.
Costa Rica also featured a young squad under new head coach Gustavo Matosas, with the only two veterans on the field familiar to Major League Soccer fans: Minnesota United defender Francisco Calvo, who captained the Ticos, and Portland Timbers midfielder David Guzman, who locked down the center of the formation.
The U.S. started brightly, using the width of the field to advance into the attacking third, but an inability to connect with the central attackers doomed chances to test the Costa Rican defense. The visitors responded with a more direct style that led to multiple set-piece opportunities, but none troubled goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
Disjointed play from both sides continued throughout the first half, and the teams entered the locker room at intermission scoreless.
The second half, started under sunny skies, was a completely different story for the U.S.. The team’s emphasis turned to pushing the ball up the field in much more rapid fashion, and a goal looked certain to come. Hometown hero Nick Lima, whose San Jose Earthquakes call Avaya Stadium home, had the best opportunity, blistering a swerving shot from the edge of the area that caromed off the post in the 54th minute.
Costa Rica looked shaken, and the U.S. continued to press the Ticos at every opportunity. Lletget, a Bay Area native, entered the game in the 63rd minute and glanced a shot wide. Cristian Roldan tagged the post from the top of the box soon after, but the goal wouldn’t come.
The breakthrough finally came in the 80th minute, when Lletget sent a header across goal that eluded goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado and nestled into the back of the net. Trapp got the play started with a ball into open space for Jonathan Lewis to track down and turn back into the area. It was the first career national team assist for Lewis, who entered the game minutes earlier.
The U.S. doubled its lead in the 88th minute when Arriola poked a ball past an onrushing Alvarado following a feed from Lletget. The Costa Ricans never recovered, and the game ended with Berhalter being awarded his second victory in as many games.
The U.S. men next play Ecuador on March 21 in Orlando, where they’ll look to continue their perfect start to 2019.
All-Star closer Blake Treinen won his arbitration case and will receive a $6.4 million salary next season, $800,000 more than the A’s had offered.
BASEBALL:
Rickie Fowler recorded eight birdies and shot a third-round 7under 64 to take a fourstroke lead at the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Ariz. Fowler, a two-time runner-up at the PGA Tour event, reached 20-under
193. Matt Kuchar (65) was second . ... Li Haotong of China made four eagles and shot an 8-under 62 to grab a share of a fivestroke lead with Dustin Johnson (65) at the Saudi International in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. Haotong and Johnson reached 16under 194 through three rounds at the European Tour event. Sergio Garcia of Spain was disqualified after damaging two greens in frustration during his 71.
GOLF:
TE Tony Gonzalez, C Kevin Mawae, DBs Ed Reed, Champ Bailey, Ty Law and Johnny Robinson, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and longtime personnel executive Gil Brandt were selected for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio . ... Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was named MVP and offensive player of the year by The AP and Rams DT Aaron Donald was named defensive player of the year for the second straight year. Other winners were: Giants RB Saquon Barkley (rookie), Colts QB Andrew Luch (comeback), Bears coach Matt Nagy (coach) and former Bears defensive coordinator and new Broncos coach Vic Fangio (assistant coach).
NFL:
Mikaela Shiffrin won a World Cup slalom race in Maribor, Slovenia. She finished
0.77 seconds ahead of Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson. It was Shiffrin’s
13th win of the season. Only Swiss great Vreni Schneider has won more races in a single season
(14, 1988-89) . ... A men’s downhill race was canceled due to heavy snowfall in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
SKIING:
Sebastian Lletget scored in the 80th minute and had an assist eight minutes later to lead the U.S. to a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in a friendly in San Jose, Calif., making Gregg Berhalter just the third U.S. coach to win his first two matches . ... Lionel Messi scored twice but suffered a thigh injury as La Liga leader Barcelona settled for a 2-2 draw against visiting Valencia. Messi will undergo tests to determine the severity of the injury, but Barca manager said he was hopeful that it wasn’t serious and Messi would be available Wednesday for the first leg of the club’s Copa del Rey semifinal against Real Madrid . ... Gonzalo Higuain and Eden Hazard each scored twice to lead host Chelsea to a 5-0 win over Huddersfield. Chelsea moved back into the top four of the English Premier League.
SOCCER:
No. 2 seed Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands beat No. 4 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 7-6 (5), 6-2 to advance to the final of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy in Russia. Bertens will face No. 8 seed Donna Vekic of Croatia, who beat Vera Zvonareva of Russia 6-2, 6-2 in the other semifinal . ... No. 6 seed Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia beat Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the final of the Thailand Open in Hua Hin. Tomljanovic will face No. 8 seed Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, who beat Magda Linette of Poland 6-4, 6-3 in the other semifinal.
TENNIS: — Edited from news services