MIAMI, Florida – Thursday was a busy day for men’s national teams across the Concacaf region with Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and the United States all in action.
Mexico and Costa Rica squared off in a scintillating friendly played at the Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, with El Tricolor coming from behind to top the Ticos, 3-2.
Joel Campbell earned the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 29’, only for Victor Guzman to pull the home side level 1-1 four minutes later. Right before halftime, Bryan Ruiz converted a penalty to hand Costa Rica a 2-1 advantage, but Mexico would respond in strong fashion in the second half with goals in the 56’ and 71’ from Henry Martin and Raul Jimenez to earn the victory.
Honduras traveled to Barcelona, Spain on Thursday to face the United Arab Emirates and came away with a solid 1-1 draw.
Romell Quioto struck in the 18’ to give the Catrachos a 1-0 lead, but the UAE would not be denied and a 32’ goal from Omar Abdulrahman prevented Honduras from earning its first win in 2018.
The United States also found itself in a wild goal-fest as it eventually succumbed 4-2 to Colombia.
A brilliant strike from James Rodriguez gave the Cafeteros a 1-0 lead going into halftime, but the U.S. stunned the South Americans with a pair of goals just three minutes apart early in the second half. Kellyn Acosta pulled the U.S. level in the 50’ before Bobby Wood made it 2-1 to the hosts in the 53’.
There were still plenty of goals left in the Colombian boots though, and goals from Carlos Bacca in the 54’, Radamel Falcao in the 74’ and Miguel Borja in the 79’ would prove to be too much for the U.S.
Mexico, Costa Rica and the U.S. will be back in action on Tuesday, with Mexico hosting Chile, Costa Rica facing Colombia and the U.S. taking on Peru.
