WCQ Game Guide: Mexico v Costa Rica
Forward Javier Hernandez (pictured) has scored one goal during Mexico's qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. (Photo: Luis Licona/Straffon Images)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP CONCACAF Qualifying -- Final Round, Matchday 3
Date: March 24, 2017 Match: Mexico v Costa Rica Venue: Estadio Azteca – Mexico City, Mexico Time: 8:50 p.m. ET
MATCH OFFICIALS R: John Pitti (Panama) AR1: Gabriel Victoria (Panama) AR2: Christian Ramirez (Honduras) 4th: Jafeth Perea (Panama)
SUSPENSIONS Mexico: Diego Reyes Costa Rica: none
ALL-TIME WCQ SERIES Mexico leads: 10W-6D-4L (29GF, 13GA)
LAST WCQ MEETING June 11, 2013: Mexico 0, Costa Rica 0 Johnny Acosta 3’; Celso Borges 10’; Joel Campbell 76’ / Clint Dempsey 43’
FIVE MATCH WCQ FORM Mexico: DWDWW Costa Rica: WWWWW
CONCACAF QUALIFYING RESULTS
Mexico (Overall record: 6W-2D-0L … 15GF, 2GA) 13.11.15 Mexico v El Salvador 3-0 17.11.15 Honduras v Mexico 0-2 25.03.16 Canada v Mexico 0-3 29.03.16 Mexico v Canada 2-0 02.09.16 El Salvador v Mexico 1-3 06.09.16 Mexico v Honduras 0-0 11.11.16 USA v Mexico 1-2 15.11.16 Panama v Mexico 0-0
Costa Rica (Overall record: 7W-1D-0L … 17GF, 3 GA) 13.11.15 Costa Rica v Haiti 1-0 17.11.15 Panama v Costa Rica 1-2 25.03.16 Jamaica v Costa Rica 1-1 29.03.16 Costa Rica v Jamaica 3-0 02.09.16 Haiti v Costa Rica 0-1 06.09.16 Costa Rica v Panama 3-1 11.11.16 Trinidad & Tobago v Costa Rica 0-2 15.11.16 Costa Rica v USA 4-0
CONCACAF QUALIFYING SCORERS Mexico: Jesus Corona (3); Andres Guardado (2); Jurgen Damm, Javier Hernandez, Hector Herrera, Raul Jimenez, Miguel Layun, Hirving Lozano, Rafael Marquez, Hector Moreno, Angel Sepulveda, Carlos Vela (1)
Costa Rica: Cristian Bolaños (4); Joel Campbell, Ronald Matarrita, Bryan Ruiz, Johan Venegas (2); Johnny Acosta, Randall Azofeifa, Celso Borges, Cristian Gamboa, Marco Ureña (1)
FINAL ROUND SUMMARY Mexico: Mexico kicked off the final round by winning an away World Cup qualifier against the United States for the first time in 34 years, earning a 2-1 victory on November 11, 2016. The result ended a string of four straight 2-0 triumphs by the Americans over their southern neighbor at the same venue in CONCACAF qualifying. Goals by Miguel Layun (20’) and Rafael Marquez (89’) bookended a Bobby Wood strike (49’). That match was followed by a 0-0 draw at Panama, marking the second time Mexico was shutout in three WCQs.
Costa Rica: Costa Rica opened final-round play with a 2-0 win over host Trinidad & Tobago on November 11, 2016, thanks to goals by Christian Bolaños (65’) and Ronald Matarrita (90’+2). Four days later, Joel Campbell (74’, 77’) scored two goals and the Ticos topped the United States, 4-0, to finish the second matchday in first place. Johan Venegas (43') and Bolaños (69') also netted in a winning effort. The two wins represent Costa Rica’s best-ever start to a Hexagonal.
FAST FACTS
Mexico - Played in every World Cup from USA 1994 through Brazil 2014 … reached Round of 16 in each edition.
- Holds record for most Hexagonal goals scored (88).
- Scored two goals of more in six of eight 2018 WCQs … shutout in other two matches.
- Shares record with Costa Rica for most goals scored in a single Hexagonal (both scored 23 in 1998).
Costa Rica - Qualified for four FIFA World Cups (1990, 2002, 2006, 2014), advancing as far as the quarterfinals in 2014, before falling to the Netherlands on penalty kicks (4-3), after a scoreless draw.
- One of three teams to reach each of the previous five Hexagonal editions.
- Has not conceded more than one goal in any of eight 2018 WCQs, posting four shutouts.
