USMNT earns resounding 4-0 win over Costa Rica in Chicago
(Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National Team notched a resounding 4-0 win against regional rival Costa Rica in front of 39,642 fans at Soldier Field to breathe new life into its 2016 Copa America Centenario aspirations.
Needing a positive result to stay in the hunt for a top two spot in Group A, the U.S. executed a counter-attacking game plan to the tune of three goals in the first 42 minutes. Forward Clint Dempsey stuffed the stat sheet for the USA, notching the opening goal – the 50th of his illustrious MNT career in the 9th minute from the penalty spot – and then assisting both Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood in the final 10 minutes of the opening half.
The U.S. backline of DeAndre Yedlin, Geoff Cameron, John Brooks and Fabian Johnson also put in a strong shift, limiting the Ticos to six total shots (just two on goal) en route to helping goalkeeper Brad Guzan claim his third clean sheet in the team’s last four games.
The USA (1-1-0, 3pts) temporarily moves into a tie with Colombia (1-0-0, 3pts) atop Group A; however, los Cafeteros play Paraguay (0-0-1, 1pt) in the day’s late game. Costa Rica (0-1-1, 1pt) drops to the bottom of the group standings.
The tournament continues for the MNT on Saturday, June 11, against Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The third Group A match for both teams will kick off at 7 p.m. ET and be broadcast live on FS1, UniMas and UDN.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Clint Dempsey (penalty kick), 9th minute: Bobby Wood won the U.S. a penalty call when he was bowled over by Christian Gamboa as he attempted to meet a DeAndre Yedlin cross in the 7th minute. Despite Costa Rica’s attempts at gamesmanship in advance of the kick, Dempsey made no mistake from the spot, sending Ticos‘ goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton the wrong way and tucking a crack shot in the bottom right corner of the net. USA 1, CRC 0
USA – Jermaine Jones (Clint Dempsey), 37th minute: The U.S. broke out in a three-on-three rush with Dempsey leading the charge flanked by Jones on the left and Bedoya on the right. Near the top of the Costa Rica penalty area, Dempsey drew the defense to him before laying the ball off to Jones who curled a low shot from right on the 18-yard line into the far, right-hand side netting to extend the U.S. lead. USA 2, CRC 0
USA – Bobby Wood (Clint Dempsey), 42nd minute: The U.S. gained a spell of possession inside the Costa Rica half and tried to work the ball into the penalty area through Dempsey, but upon being rebuffed at the first attempt, Dempsey turned creator-in-chief once again and slipped the ball to Wood, who took two nifty touches, turned and ripped a shot on goal that caught Pemberton flat-footed in his goal before nestling into the bottom right corner. USA 3, CRC 0
USA – Graham Zusi, 87th minute: Chasing down a clearance on the right wing, Zusi caught a Costa Rica defender in possession and stole the ball. Breaking in on goal, Zusi outmaneuvered a defender to create space for a shot from the center of the top of the box that zipped along the ground into lower left corner of the goal for the final margin. USA 4, CRC 0 FINAL
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Fabian Johnson , 39th minute: Costa Rica attempted to hit back immediately after conceding its second goal and pushed up the USA’s right flank. A low cross was whipped across the face of the U.S. goal that was intended for the run of Joel Campbell, but Johnson kept pace with the speedy Ticos attacker and slid in to win the ball and deny a point blank scoring opportunity.
Next on the Schedule: The U.S. MNT concludes Group A play in the 2016 Copa America Centenario against Paraguay on June 11 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Broadcast information: FS1, UniMas, UDN
Milestone Watch:
- Clint Dempsey scored his 50th goal in his 126th cap for the USA. He is now, only seven behind all-time U.S. leader Landon Donovan.
Additional Notes:
- Tonight’s win evens the all-time USA-Costa Rica series at 14-14-6.
- The 4-0 win was the USA’s biggest vs. Costa Rica with the previous being a 3-0 victory on June 4, 2005 in a World Cup qualifier in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- The U.S. holds an undefeated 6-0-0 record against CONCACAF teams at Soldier Field
- Tonight’s lineup featured an unchanged starting XI from the USA’s opening game against Colombia.
- Before tonight, Clint Dempsey scored his first international goal at Soldier Field, netting in the 2-1 loss to England on May 28, 2005. He now has 50 total and is second on the USA’s all-time list.
- Brad Guzan earned the 16th shutout of his international career. He previously blanked Costa Rica in the famous Snowclasico, the 1-0 win in World Cup Qualifying on March 22, 2013, in Commerce City, Colo. Tonight marks the Homer Glenn, Ill., natives first appearance for the U.S. in his home state.
- Michael Bradley and Gyasi Zardes have both played in eight of nine MNT games in 2016, tied for the team lead.
- Bobby Wood’s goal was the 6th of his MNT career and second since joining the team on May 15 for the Copa America Centenario.
- Graham Zusi’s goal was the fifth of his MNT career. He last scored in the USA’s 4-0 rout of Guatemala in World Cup Qualifying at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on March 29.
- Jermaine Jones bagged his fourth international goal for the USA in tonight’s match.
– U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Costa Rica
Date: June 7, 2016
Competition: 2016 Copa America Centenario – Group A
Venue: Soldier Field; Chicago, Illinois
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT
Attendance: 39,642
Weather: 62 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 1 4
CRC 0 0 0
USA – Clint Dempsey (penalty kick) 9th minute
USA – Jermaine Jones (Clint Dempsey) 37
USA – Bobby Wood (Clint Dempsey) 42
USA – Graham Zusi
Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 20-Geoff Cameron, 6-John Brooks, 23-Fabian Johnson; 11-Alejandro Bedoya (15-Kyle Beckerman, 83), 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 13-Jermaine Jones; 9-Gyasi Zardes, 8-Clint Dempsey (18-Chris Wondolowski, 78), 7-Bobby Wood (19-Graham Zusi, 70)
Subs not used: 3-Steve Birnbaum, 5-Matt Besler, 10-Darlington Nagbe, 12-Tim Howard, 14-Michael Orozco, 16-Perry Kitchen, 17-Christian Pulisic, 21-Edgar Castillo, 22-Ethan Horvath
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
CRC : 18-Patrick Pemberton; 16-Cristian Gamboa (15-José Salvatierra, 46), 6-Óscar Duarte, 2-Johnny Acosta, 3-Francisco Calvo, 22-Rónald Matarrita; 5-Celso Borges, 7-Christian Bolaños ; 10 Bryan Ruiz (capt.), 12-Joel Campbell (14-Randall Azofeifa, 46), 21-Marco Ureña (9- Álvaro Saborio, 18)
Subs not used: 1-Dany Carvajal, 4-Michael Umaña, 8-Bryan Oviedo, 11-Johan Venegas, 13-Esteban Granados, 17-Yeltsin Tejeda, 19-Kendall Waston, 20-Johnny Woodly, 23-Leonel Moreira
Head C oach: Óscar Ramírez
Stats Summary: USA / CRC
Shots: 10 / 7
Shots on Goal: 5 / 3
Saves: 3 / 1
Corner Kicks: 2 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 14
Offside: 3 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Fabian Johnson 44
USA – John Brooks 81
Officials:
Referee: Roddy Zambrano (ECU)
Assistant Referee 1: Byron Romero (ECU)
Assistant Referee 2: Luis Vera (ECU)
4th Official: John Pitti (PAN)
Man of the Match: Jermaine Jones
