Having each suffered a loss in their opening game this past weekend, the Gold Cup dream could end for either El Salvador or Costa Rica on Friday when they clash at Red Bull Arena.
La Selecta and Los Ticos were beaten 2-1 by Martinique and Panama, respectively, meaning that a defeat by either and a draw in the other Group C encounter would spell the end for the losing team in this match.
Match preview
Sometimes momentum against you can make all the difference, and for Hugo Perez and his side, they have not been able to maintain a high level of play lately, winless in their last eight matches in all competitions.
El Salvador have been known for solid defending under Perez, leaving other teams to come out aggressively to try and get an early lead when facing the Salvadorans.
That formula seems to be working as LA ES have not played with the lead all year, conceding 11 goals so far in 2023 while only notching two, allowing seven in the opening half.
They had 10 efforts on target versus Martinique, but as has been the case with them through much of the year, they have not been clinical in front of goal until the latter stages, scoring beyond the 85th minute in each of their previous two contests.
Unforced errors from this group have been uncharacteristically high of late, with La Selecta having trouble tracking runners when getting caught out in transition.
The Salvadorans have not tasted defeat in their second match at this competition since dropping a 1-0 decision versus Honduras in July 2013.
Following their exit from the previous World Cup, Los Ticos have continued to fall downward, losing four of five matches played this year, including their opener at this tournament for the first time since 2009.
Luis Fernando Suarez has not seen his side score a first half goal since a 2-0 victory over Nigeria in a November friendly, while netting one or fewer in each of their fixtures played this year.
Los Ticos have now lost three successive matches versus Central American teams, two of which came against the Panamanians this year and one versus Guatemala.
Costa Rica have won at least two of their group-stage encounters at this tournament in each of the last three editions, while their defeat to Panama was only the second for them at this stage of the Gold Cup since 2015.
The two goals they conceded in their opening fixture already matches Los Ticos' total from the 2021 group stage when they had a perfect 3-0 record.
They have got the better of El Salvador countless times through the years, unbeaten in 10 successive matches against them, a streak which dates back to 2009.
Team News
Tomas Romero began in goal for the Salvadorans last time out, conceding on half of the shots that he faced (2/4), Brayan Gil picked up his first international cap, while Narciso Orellana made his 60th appearance.
Bryan Tamacas put home his first international goal for La Selecta on Monday, while strikers Mayer Gil, Kevin Reyes and Gil are still without one for the national team, while Cristian Gil has two.
One of Cristian's goals came the last time they faced Costa Rica in March 2022 when they lost 2-1, while Jairo Henriquez gave them an early lead against those same Central American foes before his side conceded two second-half strikes in six minutes, losing 2-1.
We saw plenty of newcomers when the Costa Ricans took the field versus Panama this week, with Juan Pablo Vargas, Kendall Waston, Suhander Zuniga, Joel Campbell and Josimar Acocer being the only ones from their 3-1 loss to Ecuador who maintained their spot in the starting 11.
Anthony Contreras and Bryan Ruiz had two goals each for them in 2022 World Cup qualifying, while Aaron Suarez scored deep into stoppage time versus the Panamanians, his first with Los Ticos.
Contreras and Joel Campbell each netted in a narrow 2-1 triumph against El Salvador in March 2022, while Keylor Navas was between the sticks to help preserve that victory.
El Salvador possible starting lineup:
Romero; Tamacas, Zavaleta, Rodriguez, Roldan; Reyes, Landaverde, Orellana, Henriquez, Menjivar; C. Gil
Costa Rica possible starting lineup:
Chamorro; Waston, Vargas, Calvo; Valverde, Borges, Madrigal, Mora; Conteras, Campbell, Pena
We say: El Salvador 0-0 Costa Rica
Neither have been all that clinical in the attacking third, and we believe this will be a passive contest between two teams who look indecisive and seem to playing to avoid defeat rather than to win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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