Changes expected for USA-Costa Rica game
- by Soccer America , Feb 22, 2013
[CONCACAF UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP] First place in Group A at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship is on the line Friday when the USA faces Costa Rica. The USA will
look to show major improvements after a disappointing showing in its 2-1 win over Haiti. It will win the group with a win or tie. With two days to play in the group stage, the quarterfinal field is
all but set. Only Canada and Nicaragua are left to fight out the eighth spot in Tuesday's quarterfinals.
U.S. coach Tab Ramos is expected to make
several changes in the lineup after his players struggled all over the field in the opener.
Among the possibilities on the backline: slide Javan
Torre from left back into the middle of the backline in place of Caleb Stanko, who could be moved into the holding midfield position. Eric Miller and Juan Pablo Ocegueda could get their first starts at the outside back positions.
Another option at
holding midfielder in place of Wil Trapp is Mikey Lopez.
Costa Rica, which has appeared in eight FIFA U-20
World Cups, edged Haiti, 1-0, on a goal by John Jairo Ruiz, considered one of the best young players in Central America.
He plays for Belgian
second division team Royal Mouscron Peruwelz on loan from French club Lille.
Panama advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 win over Puerto Rico on Thursday at the Estadio Cuauhtemoc.
The result also sent Jamaica through and eliminated the Puerto Ricans.
El Salvador and Mexico also advanced when El Salvador edged Curacao, 2-1.
Again El Salvador gets an unlucky draw and again USA gets a very lucky one. Curacao is a better team than 1/2 in this tourney with many Netherlands players. Granted USA's 1st round isnt easy with Costa Rica but it is certainly assured of 2nd round with only beating Haiti which it should always beat. Quarterfinals are much easier for USA with facing either Cuba or Canada/Nicaragua. El Salvador has to face either Jamaica or Panama.
We all know Luis hates America - wonder why he stays? Any posters that don't know please remember Luis is a pathological liar and a race-baiter that never played the game and that believes his only expertise is his ethnicity and he is bent on creating ethnic and racial divide.......Go USA!