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The United States men’s national team fell to 0-2 to begin the CONCACAF Hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night with a 4-0 loss away to Costa Rica.
A very lackluster performance by the U.S. saw the Ticos dominate play and punish defensive mistakes to win for the second time to open this round.
The first half begin on cagey terms with both sides struggling with the less than ideal field conditions. The Ticos enjoyed the better of the chances early on and would’ve gotten off the mark if not for a good Brad Guzan save on a 1 v 1 after John Brooks got burnt with a nutmeg inside his own penalty area.
The U.S. did muster a few half chances, the best coming late with Bobby Wood racing to the endline and squaring a great ball across the face of goal. Unfortunately, no Americans were there to get on the end of it.
On the brink of halftime, the hosts broke the deadlock off a defensive breakdown by the U.S. back line. Johan Venegas got loose inside the area and nodded home a cross from the left flank to make it 1-0 heading into the lockerroom.
Costa Rica were more than happy to sit on their one-goal lead coming out of the half and allowed the U.S. to attack. With their new-found control in the match, they did little to threaten Keylor Navas in goal.
The lack of opportunities created cost them big time in the 69th minute when another headed goal by Christian Bolanos was squeezed past Guzan for a 2-0 lead.
The hosted put the match to bed soon after when second half substitute, Joel Campbell, took advantage of a horrendous mistake by John Brooks at the back, waltzed in on goal, and finished easily.
It got even worse in the 78th minute when Campbell doubled his tally and extended the Ticos lead to 4-0 after latching onto a lobbed ball over the top and finish another easy 1 v 1 chance.
Simple fact of the matter is that the USMNT quit on this match and on their coach. Has Jurgen Klinsmann lost this team? Is it time for a change? There’s plenty of questions for all of U.S. Soccer to answer with four months to think about them.