The USA's Michael Orozco (white jersey) tries to block a shot by Marco Ureña of visiting Costa Rica during their international friendly on October 13, 2015, in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo: John Dorton/isiphotos.com)
HARRISON, New Jersey. -- Joel Campbell scored in the 70th minute to lift Costa Rica to a 1-0 victory over the United States in an international friendly at Red Bull Arena on Tuesday night.
The result marked a fourth consecutive match (0W-1D-3L) in which the Americans did not win at home against CONCACAF opposition, going back to their 2-1 semifinal loss to Jamaica in July’s CONCACAF Gold Cup. That equals a team record originally set from 1957 to 1965.
Dave Myrie, who had just entered the match only two minutes earlier, found plenty of space down the right flank to complete a cross to Campbell at the top of the box. The Arsenal forward fired a 14-yard shot past goalkeeper Tim Howard for the game’s only goal.
Although not severely tested, Howard -- making his first international appearance since a sterling 16-save performance in a 2-1 loss to Belgium in the 2014 FIFA World Cup – looked sharp.
Campbell almost turned a U.S. giveaway into a goal in the 59th minute, when his 25-yard blast forced the 2013 and 2014 CONCACAF Goalkeeper of the Year to parry the ball over the crossbar.
Left-back Tim Ream produced the USA’s best chance off a Brek Shea free kick that goalkeeper Keylor Navas saved at the far left post in the 30th minute.
With the second half barely two minutes old, Costa Rica’s Marco Ureña beat center-back Michael Orozco on the right side and fired a shot that just missed the left post.
Both teams will enter the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 World Cup next month.
The U.S., which is coming off a 3-2 loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup on Saturday, will host Group C rival St. Vincent & the Grenadines on November 13. Costa Ricans will welcome Haiti that same day in Group B.
