Action from the World Cup qualifier between visiting Costa Rica (white jersey) and Trinidad & Tobago on November 11, 2016, in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. (Photo: CA-Images)
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP
CONCACAF Qualifying -- Final Round, Matchday 6
Date: June 13, 2017
Match: Costa Rica v Trinidad & Tobago
Venue: Estadio Nacional – San Jose, Costa Rica
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
MATCH OFFICIALS
R: Yadel Martinez (Cuba)
AR1: Leonardo Sanchez (Cuba)
AR2: Hermenerito Leal (Guatemala)
4th: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)
SUSPENSIONS
Costa Rica: Giancarlo Gonzalez
Trinidad & Tobago: none
ALL-TIME WCQ SERIES
Costa Rica leads: 12W-3D-0L (30GF, 5GA)
LAST WCQ MEETING
November 11, 2016: Trinidad & Tobago 0, Costa Rica 2
Christian Bolaños 65'; Ronald Matarrita 90'+2
FIVE MATCH WCQ FORM
Costa Rica: DDLWW
Trinidad & Tobago: LLWLL
CONCACAF QUALIFYING RESULTS
Costa Rica (Overall record: 7W-3D-1L … 18GF, 6 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
24.03.17 Mexico v Costa Rica 2-0
28.03.17 Honduras v Costa Rica 1-1
08.06.17 Costa Rica v Panama 0-0
Trinidad Tobago (Overall record: 4W-2D-5L … 15GF, 17GA)
13.11.15 Guatemala v Trinidad & Tobago 1-2
17.11.15 Trinidad & Tobago v USA 0-0
25.03.16 St. Vincent & the Grenadines v Trinidad & Tobago 2-3
29.03.16 Trinidad & Tobago v St. Vincent & the Grenadines 6-0
02.09.16 Trinidad & Tobago v Guatemala 2-2
06.09.16 USA v Trinidad & Tobago 4-0
11.11.16 Trinidad & Tobago v Costa Rica 0-2
15.11.16 Honduras v Trinidad & Tobago 3-1
24.03.17 Trinidad & Tobago v Panama 1-0
28.03.17 Trinidad & Tobago v Mexico 0-1
08.06.17 USA v Trinidad & Tobago 2-0
CONCACAF QUALIFYING SCORERS
Costa Rica: Christian Bolaños (4); Joel Campbell, Ronald Matarrita, Bryan Ruiz, Johan Venegas (2); Johnny Acosta, Randall Azofeifa, Celso Borges, Cristian Gamboa, Marco Ureña, Kendall Waston (1)
Trinidad & Tobago: Kenwyne Jones, Joevin Jones (3); Trevin Caesar, Levi Garcia, Kevin Molino (2); Sheldon Bateau, Khaleem Hyland, Carlyle Mitchell (1)
FINAL ROUND SUMMARY
Costa Rica: After opening qualifying with an unbeaten 7-1-0 record, second-place Costa Rica (2nd place: 2W-2D-1L) has gone winless in three straight outings – 2-0 away loss v Mexico, 1-1 away draw v Honduras, 0-0 home draw v Panama. With Thursday’s scoreless stalemate against Panama, the Ticos saw their 10-game WCQ winning streak at home come to an end. Costa Rica has never lost to Trinidad & Tobago in 15 all-time WCQ games (7-1-0 home record) and another win will bring to within three points of CONCACAF Hexagonal table-topper Mexico.
Trinidad & Tobago: Trinidad & Tobago (6th place: 1W-0D-4L) is one of three teams in the CONCACAF Hexagonal with only one win, but with four losses, it has the most of any side. While Tuesday’s game at Costa Rica is not necessarily “must-win,” a victory is necessary if solely to send a message that the Soca Warriors intend to battle to the end. It won’t be easy. Costa Rica has conceded three goals in five games, while T&T has only two over that same stretch. Neither Kenwyne Jones nor Joevin Jones – the team’s joint-top scorers in 2018 WCQ play on three goals each – have netted in the last 6 WCQs. If either can get back on track, the Caribbean power could as well.
FAST FACTS
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.
- Only one goal scored in last three WCQ matches (Kendall Waston, in 68’ of 1-1 draw at Honduras)
- Eight of last nine WCQ goals scored in second half.
- Conceded one goal or fewer in nine of ten 2018 WCQ matches.
Trinidad & Tobago
- Qualified for only one FIFA World Cup, playing in Germany 2006 after overcoming Bahrain in a two-match playoff, 2-1 on aggregate.
- Current forward Kenwyne Jones appeared in two matches at the 2006 World Cup (entered as a first-half substitute in 2-0 loss v Paraguay … started and played 70 minutes in 2-0 loss v England).
- Conceded three goals in last three WCQs, after conceding 11 in previous four.
- Scored one goal or fewer in six straight WCQ games (shutout four times)
- Competing in fourth Hexagonal.
