Miserable night for USA Soccer fans last night in Costa Rica as the US lost 3-1 in a World Cup qualifying. The only good news was that Mexico lost to Honduras 2-1 at Azteca Stadium and that a USA win on Tuesday over Mexico could see the US qualify for Brazil.
You knew it was not going to be the American’s night when midfielder Michael Bradley picked up an ankle injury during warm-ups and was replaced in the starting lineup by Cameron.
Then the US revert back to the Bill Bradley days and conceded two goals in the opening 10 minutes. The first came after two minutes when Johnny Acosta beat Clint Dempsey and headed home from a corner.
Eight minutes later it was 2-0 when Celso Borges out-muscled DaMarcus Beasley and headed the ball home sending the home fans crazy.
Two really bad goals to concede, especially early in the game. The Costa Rica players simply wanted the ball more than the American players. Fortunately this is something that Jurgen Klinsmann can correct.
Dempsey made it 2-1 from the penalty spot, but with the US pushing for an equalizer, Costa Rica hit them with a classic counter-attack when Jose Miguel Cubero held off Matt Besler to score. Another poor goal to concede from the US standpoint.
To make a bad night worse, Cameron, Besler and Altidore and picked up yellow cards and will now be suspended for the Mexico game. Add in the injured Bradley and the US will be under strength on Tuesday.
Overall a bad night at the office for Klinsmann’s side. From the Bradley injury and the conceding the early goals showed that the US were just not ready to play the game. And that goes on Klinsmann.
Luckily the Americans have a chance to redeem themselves against Mexico on Tuesday. What would be better than rebounding with a win and putting Mexico’s chances of going to Brazil in serious doubt.
The USA dropped to second place with 13 points behind leaders Costa Rica (14 points) and ahead of Honduras (10) and Mexico (8). Panama (7) and Jamaica (3) split the points in their meeting Friday night with a 0-0 draw.