Redemption for the failed qualification for the 2017 World Cup seemed imminent, but the focus on the task at hand was never diminished in the camp. “We still have work to do” was the chorus echoing from coach Gregg Berhalter to key players Tyler Adams, Tim Weah and Deandre Yedlin throughout the run-up to Tuesday’s Concacaf qualifier. And despite the math that weighed heavily in their favor, Berhalter and his partner on Wednesday put an end to speculation that the team would swap players or be happy with the draw. The task was to qualify, but the way of qualifying mattered. The players expressed the desire to win, to make a point, to make a mark, to do what every American team before them had not achieved: to win a World Cup qualifier away from home in Costa Rica. As for the hosts, the atmosphere was festive and hopeful. The 35,062-seat bandbox was packed and cheering. After a remarkable five-game winning streak and one draw in their last six games, the Los Ticos were on their way to qualifying. They entered Wednesday’s match ready to take fourth place in the playoffs and, no doubt looking forward strategically to this match, sat down several key players, including Joel Campbell and Brian Oviedo, to avoid a possible accumulation of yellow cards. from that one-off in June. The United States beat the Costa Ricans so lightly during a scoreless first half. They were overshadowed in the free kick and in the corner, winning seven corners, but did not make any conversions. They looked threatening in places and did a good job of getting the ball forward, especially from the right side. They held Costa Rica well defensively and set the pace of the game. The first minutes of the second half saw the best opportunity of the United States in the goal. It looked like the moment when the Americans would take the lead, taking advantage of the momentum built in the first half and sending the US on their way to write history in the qualifiers. Miles Robinson was in good position in front of the net to show threatening, where he received a cross and sent it to the net with a header that he felt he would enter if it were not for an incredible rebound by Keylor Navas. Christian Pulisic from the USA is trying to beat the Costa Rican goalkeeper, Kaylor Navas. Photo: Mayela Lopez / Reuters And with this save, the lights went out. Moments later, Costa Rica won a corner kick at the opposite end of the field. Brandon Aguilera made the effort, sending it to Juan Pablo Vargas, who catapulted US goalkeeper Jacques Stephen, putting Costa Rica ahead in the 51st. In a match that ultimately resulted in capitalization and defense in the set phases, the United States had taken seven corners by then and had not gone without anything – and Costa Rica had just converted its third corner into a goal. The change of momentum on the field and in the stands was immediate. Eight minutes later, Anthony Contreras stealthily stepped in behind Antonee Robinson to score Costa Rica’s second goal from another cross in front of an insane crowd. Still struggling, still hoping, Berhalter immediately sent in three candidates. Jesus Ferreira, Giovanni Reyna and Shaq Moore came in with Luca de la Torre who had gone to halftime as a substitute. But the US would never regain momentum or control the pace of the struggle. They won a handful of more corners, but still failed to do anything. They pushed the ball forward and continued the attack, but were slowed down by fouls and tight defenses. The crowd roared behind the hosts, sending momentum in their path. Los Ticos seemed dangerous to score until the last whistle. The match ended 2-0 in favor of the hosts. Despite the result, despite failing to make history with their first qualifier in Costa Rica, the United States has completed the key task ahead of it, which it aimed to achieve eight months ago in El Salvador: to officially close the their ticket to Qatar 2022. Canada, who secured their first trip to the World Cup since 1986 with a victory on Sunday, finished at the top of the group with 28 points after a 1-0 defeat by Panama. Mexico beat El Salvador 2-0 to move ahead of the United States in second place and win their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance.
