SM
Thursday, March 28
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
UN
World Cup Qualifying - North Central America | Third Round
Oct 14, 2021 at 12am UK
 
CR

USA
2 - 1
Costa Rica

Dest (25'), Moreira (66' og.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Fuller (1')

Preview: USA vs. Costa Rica - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: USA vs. Costa Rica - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Wednesday's World Cup Qualifying - North Central America clash between USA and Costa Rica, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Seeking to bounce back immediately following their shock defeat to Panama, the USA return to familiar surroundings at the Lower.com Field in Columbus for Wednesday's clash with Costa Rica.

The visitors, meanwhile, enter this game having marched to a 2-1 victory over El Salvador on matchday five - their first success in round three of World Cup 2022 Qualifying.


Match preview

Prior to the trip to Panama City, the USA had gleaned eight points from their opening four Qualifying fixtures and had strung together a 13-game unbeaten run across all competitions, but that all came to a bitter end for Gregg Berhalter and his side at the weekend.

With 53 minutes on the clock, Anibal Godoy met Eric Davis's corner with a near-post header which flew into the back of the net, and USA's forwards struggled for any sort of attacking inspiration as they fell to a first defeat of the qualification period.

Despite that bitter blow, the USA remain one of the favourites for an automatic route to Qatar 2022 as they remain second in the CONCACAF rankings - three points behind unbeaten Mexico - but Panama have now moved level with Berhalter's side following that eye-catching success.

After their streak of seven consecutive World Cup Finals appearances came to an end in 2018, Berhalter is aware of the pressure on his shoulders to steer the USA back to the showpiece event, but their 2-0 home win over Jamaica earlier this month was the latest in a long line of home triumphs for the Stars and Stripes.

Indeed, the USA have won 14 of their last 15 home games across all tournaments - with the one exception being a 1-1 draw with Canada last month - and Costa Rica will somehow endeavour to become the first away side to win on US turf since September 2019.

Costa Rica's bid for a fifth World Cup Finals appearance in six editions got off to a morale-depleting start with only three points and one goal from their first four fixtures, but they turned on the style to get the better of El Salvador on matchday five.

An 85th-minute red card to Narciso Orellana did not help matters for the visitors, but all three goals in the game had been scored by that point, with Costa Rica duo Bryan Ruiz and Celso Borges cancelling out Jairo Mauricio Henriquez's opener.

Costa Rica's first three points of World Cup 2022 Qualifying has seen them surge into contention for a top-three finish as they lie fifth in the table - two points below Panama in the final automatic spot and one below Canada for the playoff place - while only three goals conceded across five games is nothing to be sniffed at.

However, their struggles in front of goal are well-documented with only three goals scored in their last seven matches in all competitions - two of which came against El Salvador - and their last three games away from home have ended 0-0.

This week's visitors have also lost their last three games against the USA by an aggregate scoreline of 7-0, with the most recent game in June of this year seeing the Stars and Stripes ease to a comfortable 4-0 friendly win.

USA World Cup Qualifying - North Central America form:
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L

USA form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L

Costa Rica World Cup Qualifying - North Central America form:
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W

Costa Rica form (all competitions):
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W

Team News

The USA were without Zack Steffen and Antonee Robinson for the trip to Panama due to UK quarantine restrictions, but both men are raring to go for the visit of Costa Rica this week.

Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie should also be given the green light after missing out at the weekend due to muscle soreness, while Sergino Dest was fit enough to make the bench last time out and should earn a recall to the first XI here.

The likes of Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson will also be confident about their chances of returning to the starting lineup, with Villarreal starlet Yunus Musah's spot at risk after a half-time withdrawal at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Costa Rica did not report any fresh injury concerns from the win over El Salvador, and Luis Fernando Suarez will be tempted to largely stick with the same XI that got the job done at the weekend.

Borges's 143rd cap for the national team saw him claim a goal and an assist in a man-of-the-match performance, but Jonathan Moya is an option for change in the final third over Johan Venegas.

USA possible starting lineup:
Turner; Dest, Zimmerman, M. Robinson, A. Robinson; Lletget, Adams, McKennie; Arriola, Pepi, Aaronson

Costa Rica possible starting lineup:
Navas; Galo, Duarte, Calvo, Matarrita; Borges, Tejeda; Campbell, Ruiz, Moya; Ortiz


We say: USA 2-0 Costa Rica

Despite the contrasting results these two sides posted during matchday five, the USA's remarkable streak on home soil and bountiful options for change in all areas of the pitch should see them return to winning ways here.

Costa Rica have proven difficult to break down so far, but their problems at the other end of the pitch remain alive, and we expect the hosts to bring Suarez's side crashing back down to earth in Ohio.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data




body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__467005 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-10-12 23:03:49:
html db last update - 2021-10-10 22:02:14 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
FIFA 22 Man City ratings: De Bruyne, Ederson, Sterling
Real Madrid 'priced out of move for Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

1

MC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

2

KM

Preview: Waalwijk vs. Heerenveen - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PW

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

4

A'

Barcelona could be missing seven players for Las Palmas clash

5

BC

Man Utd could raise £105m through player sales this summer

6

MU

Why Chelsea winger Sterling will relish Burnley game

7

WC

Man Utd, Spurs 'alerted to cut-price fee for in-demand defender'

8

MU

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PB

Record-breaking Arsenal teenager signs first professional contract

10

RA


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .