Portland Timbers coach Caleb Porter put it best. The Timbers’ 1-1 tie with Saprissa that knocked them out of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League ranks as one of the toughest resultsof his tenure in Portland. The Timbers didn’t hold back in their CCL campaign but came up short. They’ll now need a win at Vancouver […]
costa rica
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Hex Files: Mexico's Osorio looks ahead to Columbus
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio is already looking ahead to the Hexagonal opener against the USA in Columbus. Even though many of his starters are missing, he plans to use El Tri’s friendlyagainst Panama on Tuesday as a test run for the match against the USA. Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras have all won friendlies […]
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CCL: Monster's Cave claims another MLS victim
San Jose’s Estadio Saprissa is one of the most feared stadiums in Concacaf. The USA has played eight World Cup qualifiers at “the Monster’s Cave” and the best it’s managed is one tie. MLS clubs havedone only slightly better against Saprissa with a 1-9-1 record in all competitions. The latest defeat: Portland’s 4-2 loss in […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
More than a Hexagonal berth is on the line for USA in Caribbean tests
By Ridge Mahoney (@ridgemax) Caribbean opposition has occasionally been troublesome for the USA in its World Cup qualifyingcampaigns, and since head coach Jurgen Klinsmann doesn’t take advancement for granted until it happens, he’s summoned a few veterans who aren’t likely to be on the team in2018. If the inclusions of Kyle Beckerman and Chris […]
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WCQ: What's at stake Friday in Concacaf
After four games, one team — Mexico — has clinched a berth in the Hexagonal, the final round of World Cup 2018 qualifying in the Concacaf zone, and only one team — St. Vincent & the Grenadines– has been eliminated. The USA is one of four teams that can clinch a berth in the Hex […]
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USA-Costa Rica: Olympic tuneups end with easy win
The USA closed out its preparations for the Olympic women’s soccer tournament on Friday when it defeated Costa Rica, 4-0, before 12,635 fans at Children’s Mercy Park. Crystal Dunn,Mallory Pugh, Carli Lloyd and Christen Press scored the goals for the USA, which dominated the match. Goalkeepers Hope Solo and Alyssa Naeher faced only oneshot from […]
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WCQ: USA likely faces brutal start to qualifying
The scenario is set for the USA to face a brutal start to the Hexagonal, the final round of World Cup 2018 qualifying in the Concacaf zone. If form holds, it will open at home against Mexico and thenaway to Costa Rica in November. USA in the Hexagonal (First two dates) 2013: 3 points (1-2 […]
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USA-Paraguay: Nothing ambiguous about what's at stake
As there’s been nothing ambiguous about the two U.S. matches in the Copa America Centenario, such is the case for its Group A finale against Paraguay on Saturday in Philadelphia. Aside from a fantastical occurrence of Costa Rica beating Colombia by at least six goals and the Americans playing a tie and winding up with […]
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USA-Costa Rica: Hosts step it up with convincing win
After USA-Mexico, USA-Costa Rica is the most storied rivalry in U.S. national team history. But never in the 34-game series has a match been as one-sided as the USA’s 4-0 win over the Ticos that keptit very much alive in the Copa Centenario. The Americans, facing elimination with another loss after the 2-0 defeat to […]
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USA-Costa Rica Copa Centenario Player Ratings
A 4-0 dismantling of Concacaf rival Costa Rica Tuesday in Chicago revived the USA’s chances of advancing to the Copa Centenario quarterfinals. Clint Dempsey converted a penalty kickto spark an onslaught that produced goals by Jermaine Jones and Bobby Wood for a 3-0 halftime lead. Graham Zusi came off the bench to add a fourth […]