Ugly game for the U.S., there's no doubt about it. Obviously it wasn't a game we needed to win, and Saprissa isn't the easiest place to play, especially in the rain, and Arena was trying out some new players. But it wasn't a performance that's going to inspire anyone, at least not on the defensive end - the first two Costa Rican goals were created by incredibly ineffective defense on the part of the U.S.
I didn't see the whole thing because I wasn't at home, and my girlfriend insisted on flipping back and forth between the game and a painful Saturday Night Live featuring the unwatchable tag team of host Jon Heder and musical guest Ashlee Simpson. What I did see mostly spoke for itself - the Americans had a few opportunities but never really threatened to finish, except for when they had a goal called back on an offsides, and on one shot in the second half the ball was cleared off the line by the last Costa Rican defender. Neither team played great in the conditions, but Costa Rica were quick to pounce on their opponents' mistakes at the back. Factor in the fact that Costa Rica needed the win and you've got all the ingredients. (Technically they didn't need the win, as Mexico beat Guatemala, but you always want to get in on your own terms if you can. Anyway, they may or may not have known the result of Mexico/Guatemala when they took the field.)
Really, I don't have much else to say about this one. There weren't many positives for the U.S. that wouldn't just have come from how a certain player played, but since I couldn't watch it as closely as I might have, it was hard to notice. I'll try to pay more attention when Panama comes to town.
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