USA TODAY International Edition
Costa Rica deals USA crushing 4- 0 defeat
The USA’s miserable start to the decisive phase of World Cup qualifying took another crushing turn Tuesday night, as it suffered a humiliating 4- 0 defeat to Costa Rica.
While the Americans have never fared well here and now carry a 0- 9- 1 all- time record in the Costa Rican capital, this was arguably the lowest point of coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s time in charge.
A header from Johan Venegas after 43 minutes gave the hosts a deserved lead, and the USA never looked likely to turn the tide. A spectacular second- half burst put an exclamation point on Costa Rica’s victory, as Cristian Bolanos headed home the second goal in the 68th minute before speedy substitute Joel Campbell added two more on breakaways.
By then the USA was a shadow of its usual self as the reality of losing back- toback qualifiers to begin the hexagonal final round in the CONCACAF region for the first time sunk in.
If positives could be taken from Friday’s home defeat to Mexico, there was little solace that could be salvaged here. In June, Klinsmann possibly saved his job with a 4- 0 victory against Costa Rica in the USA’s second game of the Copa America. An identical scoreline in reverse could have put him back on the hot seat, despite U. S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati’s recent assertion that the coach likely would remain in charge until the World Cup, whatever happened.
While zero points from two games makes for dismal reading, there’s ample time for the team to recover. CONCACAF sends its top three teams from its six- team, double round- robin format to the World Cup; a fourth team gets a shot via playoff.
But Klinsmann clearly has much to work on. His defense was never able to cope with the adventurous Costa Rican creative players and could not withstand the pressure for long enough to make the game competitive.
The opening goal came because of a mix- up between Jermaine Jones and John Brooks that allowed the home side to break, before Venegas, who plays club soccer for the Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer, got his head to a perfect cross from the left.
The second goal came thanks largely to a pinpoint ball from the opposite side by Costa Rica’s talisman and best player, providing a cross that Bolanos merely had to guide into the net.
Brooks and Omar Gonzalez were unable to withstand the onslaught of pace of late replacement Campbell, who twice exposed the USA’s defensive problems against genuine speed before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Frustrations unsurprisingly boiled over, with Jozy Altidore getting involved in a tetchy exchange late to become one of a string of Americans to be yellow- carded.
There are four months until the next two qualifiers and much to consider before then.