Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Johnny Acosta, right, scored for Costa Rica, which ended the United States' 12-game winning streak.
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — The United States players arrived here this week exuding confidence, chests ever-so-slightly puffed, as they carried a 12-game winning streak into a crucial World Cup qualifying match.
But their strut turned to a stagger almost as soon as a ball was kicked Friday. The Americans this week talked about attacking, about winning, to move closer to next summer's World Cup. Instead, a determined Costa Rica team humbled them, 3-1, inside a dizzyingly loud National Stadium.
The United States remained stuck at 13 points after seven games, falling to second place behind Costa Rica, which now has 14. The Americans' qualification hopes did not deflate much, but their pride most likely did.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann arrayed his players into a 4-2-3-1, using Landon Donovan — who was playing his first qualifying match since June 2012, before his three-month wintertime sabbatical — as a central playmaker and the captain Clint Dempsey, playing his 100th international game, as a lone striker.
But the lineup, which could have been the team's strongest this year, took a huge blow before the game. The midfield linchpin Michael Bradley sprained his left ankle during warm-ups and watched the game from the bench, crutches placed nearby. His status for the team's match Tuesday against Mexico was not immediately clear.
It was an ominous beginning, and things only got worse. The capacity crowd of about 35,000 at the National Stadium blared horns, booed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and created a foreboding atmosphere to rival the ones produced at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, the team's old home.
The fans were sent into ecstasy within the first two minutes. On a corner kick from the right side, Johnny Acosta slipped away from his marker and sent a glancing header inside the near post to give Costa Rica a stunning early lead.
Seven minutes later, Celso Borges charged through the middle to elevate and snap his forehead onto Yeltsin Tejada's floating cross from the left, beating keeper Tim Howard to make it 2-0.
The Americans gathered themselves somewhat, and minutes before halftime, Fabian Johnson ghosted behind the Costa Rican back line and was chopped down by goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who got a yellow card and gave away a penalty kick. Clint Dempsey stepped to the spot and drilled the ball to Navas's left to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The optimism was fleeting. The United States failed to break through, and in the 75th minute, Joel Campbell caught up to a thumped clearance and won a footrace to the Americans' goal, where he beat Howard one on one to deliver a final, humbling blow.
IN OTHER GAMES Spain, Germany and Italy won, moving to the verge of qualification for the World Cup. Spain, the reigning world champion, beat host Finland, 2-0. In Germany's 3-0 home victory over Austria, Miroslav Klose scored his 68th goal for the national team, tying Gerd Müller's record. Italy beat visiting Bulgaria, 1-0. (AP)
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Costa Rica 3, United States 1: Streak Ends for U.S. in Qualifying Match
Dengan url
https://homepageglobal.blogspot.com/2013/09/costa-rica-3-united-states-1-streak.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Costa Rica 3, United States 1: Streak Ends for U.S. in Qualifying Match
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Costa Rica 3, United States 1: Streak Ends for U.S. in Qualifying Match
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar