The US males’s soccer staff beat Costa Rica, 1-0, to win Group C of the 2013 Gold Cup. The decisive tally got here on a late Brek Shea aim and gave the Yanks a document eight-game profitable streak.
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BY
John Godfrey
Posted
July 16, 2013
10:10 PM
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EAST HARTFORD, Conn.—On July 15, United States males’s soccer coach Jurgen Klinsmann stated that he was treating Tuesday’s Gold Cup match like a “final,” including that “we won’t save anybody for the game against Costa Rica.”
On July 16, Klinsmann introduced a beginning XI that didn’t embrace Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, or Joe Corona.
It did not matter. A lineup that includes Sean Johnson in aim and Michael Parkhurst at proper again and Stuart Holden in midfield was ok to beat Costa Rica, 1-0, and declare first place in Group C within the 2013 Gold Cup.
The decisive second within the match got here within the 82nd minute. Following an excellent close-range save by U.S. goalkeeper Sean Johnson, the US countered down the precise wing. Joe Corona launched Landon Donovan. Donovan pushed forward, discovered Brek Shea sprinting within the heart of the pitch, and delivered a terrific cross. Shea’s left-footed shot secured could not have a factor of magnificence, but it surely secured the victory for the Yanks.
“The pass was perfect,” Klinsmann stated afterward. It wanted to be, as a result of Costa Rica employed a defense-first method that stifled the U.S. for lengthy stretches.
“It was pretty obvious game plan,” Klinsmann stated after the match. “A [five-man] back line. Very compact. They didn’t allow any space to go through. We ended up in a grind, we ended up in a battle.”
“They have quality players that can go at you, but they came out in a very defensive-minded shape,” he stated. “That shows a lot of respect for us.”
With the win, the US will now face El Salvador on July 21 in Baltimore. Costa Rica should face Honduras—a more durable problem.
The sport obtained off to a really sluggish begin. Combine Diskerud made a few intelligent passes down the precise wing to Alejandro Bedoya, however a defensive-minded Costa Rica aspect rebuffed these efforts. Jose Torres performed like a person possessed, working tirelessly on either side of the pitch and opening up a number of half-attacks. And captain DaMarcus Beasley chased down a number of lengthy passes that might have led to possibilities down the left flank, however his crosses had been both snuffed out or cleared away.
Costa Rica loved a couple of good moments of possession within the first half, primarily on account of good one-touch passing within the midfield, however might it not muster a lot of something within the last third of the sphere.
All advised, the primary half-hour had been a bit uninteresting. However a light-weight appeared to change on for each groups proper across the half-hour mark.
Within the thirty third minute, Costa Rica’s Junior Diaz obtained on the tip of Giancarlo Gonzalez’s nook and executed a stunning bicycle kick from 12 yards out. He struck the ball exhausting, but it surely flew harmlessly a couple of yards over Sean Johnson’s aim.
Two minutes later, American midfielder Jose Torres responded with a harmful cross of his personal. He discovered striker Chris Wondolowski making a near-post run, however Wondolowski’s header was parried into contact.
The following nook kick, once more from Torres, was headed down by Goodson and landed close to Wondolowski. The San Jose Earthquakes star tried a cheeky backheel however Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton devoured up the try.
The very best probability of all, nevertheless, got here simply earlier than the halftime whistle. Central midfielder Stuart Holden ran onto a intelligent ball simply to the precise of the Costa Rican aim. Whether or not he was too keen or simply too rusty, Holden fluffed the prospect badly, stumbling over himself and kicking the ball into contact. It was ugly.
The competition remained scoreless at intermission, and issues picked up significantly after the interval.
Within the fifty fifth minute, Jamaican referee Courtney Campbell made a name that modified the course of the competition. With the Individuals on the assault and the ball bouncing precariously simply exterior the penalty space, goalkeeper Pemberton collided with one in all his teammates and the ball landed at Wondoloski’s toes 25 yards from aim.
Pemberton, clearly exterior the field, blocked Wondolowski’s shot along with his arms. He ought to have been given a straight pink, however Campbell pulled out a yellow as an alternative.
Torres took the following spot kick from 22 yards out and focused the highest proper nook, however the goalkeeper stretched to his left and pushed it away. The rebound fell to Landon Donovan however he mishit his try and a terrific probability fell by the wayside.
Although they’d the higher possibilities and way more of the ball, the Individuals couldn’t break by way of the Costa Rica protection. As the sport reached the 70-minute mark, the U.S. grew more and more glad with the scoreline. Forward of Costa Rica in Group C based mostly on aim differential, a tie would give the Yanks first place.
Not surprisingly, Costa Rica stepped up its assault, pushing additional ahead and with higher urgency.
And it price them.
The Ticos’ finest probability of the match got here within the eightieth minute, off a nook kick. Actual Salt Lake ahead Alvaro Saborio broke free from his defender on a nook kick and headed the ball towards the highest nook of the aim. However Johnson, who had appeared nervous early within the match, sprawled to push the ball apart, saving the sport for the Yanks. Within the scramble that adopted, the U.S. retained possession and countered.
Landon Donovan sprinted down the precise wing, noticed Brek Shea in house in entrance of aim and delivered a splendidly flighted cross simply exterior the penalty space. Shea took one contact to assemble the ball after which delivered a left-footed shot into the again of the web.
The U.S. had a aim, the group, and a positive quarterfinal matchup.
“It’s only going to get only more difficult,” Klinsmann stated earlier than heading again to the locker room. “In the knockout stage, you can’t make any mistakes.”
Keep tuned for quotes, participant scores, tactical evaluation and extra.
