U.S. clinch World Cup berth despite defeat at Costa Rica

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – The United States are back in the FIFA World Cup despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Costa Rica on Wednesday night at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica on the 14th and final matchday of the Third Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022.

The U.S. return to the tournament for the first time since Brazil 2014 by virtue of their Third-Place finish in the standings, while Fourth-Place Costa Rica advance to the Intercontinental Play-Off versus New Zealand in June in Doha, Qatar.

The first chances belonged to the U.S., as a hard hit from Miles Robinson off a corner kick forced Costa Rica GK Keylor Navas into a sprawling save in the 8’, followed by a stinging effort from Ricardo Pepi in the 13’.

Costa Rica were playing with plenty of energy and had the U.S. defense on their toes at moments, but saves from U.S. Zack Steffen ensured it was a 0-0 scoreline at halftime.

A trio of chances for the U.S. at the start of the second stanza almost yielded an opener, with Robinson, Timothy Weah and Walker Zimmerman all being either denied by Navas or missing the target.

But the first goal belonged to Costa Rica, as Juan Pablo Vargas thumped in a header off a corner kick in the 51’ to give the Ticos a 1-0 lead.

The pace of the match was in Costa Rica’s favor and the Ticos took advantage of confusion in the U.S. defense, with Anthony Contreras turning in a cross to make it a 2-0 affair in the 60’.

The U.S. sought to pull a goal back, but the Costa Rican defense turned the U.S. away at every turn to secure the clean sheet victory and complete a perfect nine-point final window.