USA Dominates Costa Rica in Friendly with a 3-0 Victory
In a thrilling display of soccer prowess, the United States national team secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday. This win marks the second consecutive triumph for the U.S. squad, which is currently showcasing a roster brimming with MLS talent during their annual January camp.
The match kicked off with a bang as Brian White of the Vancouver Whitecaps opened the scoring. White found the back of the net after receiving a perfectly timed through ball from Diego Luna, leaving Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado with no chance. This goal was particularly special for White, who, at 29, became the oldest American to score his first international goal since Matt Besler achieved the feat in 2016.
Under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, the U.S. team was fresh off a victory against Venezuela in another friendly match. However, the team had to rely on a crucial save from Zack Steffen late in the first half to maintain their 1-0 lead going into the break. Steffen’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he continued to thwart Costa Rica’s attempts in the second half.
The U.S. extended their lead with two more goals, courtesy of Caden Clark and Patrick Agyemang, who both delivered stunning strikes to seal the victory. Agyemang’s goal was his second in as many games, having also scored in the 3-0 win over Venezuela.
Pochettino was full of praise for Steffen, stating, “He performed really, really well. A few saves were amazing. He showed the quality that he has as a keeper.”
This result was a setback for former Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, who was making his debut as Costa Rica’s head coach. Meanwhile, Pochettino is gearing up to lead a full-strength U.S. side in the upcoming Concacaf Nations League finals in March. The Americans will aim to continue their dominance in the competition, having been the only team to win it since its inception in 2019.
Reflecting on the match, Pochettino commented, “The inclusion of non-traditional players on the national team is very useful and provides new information about the real level of those players. They are players with talent, with the ability to understand and adapt quickly to different ideas. And I think that will help us in the future to make better decisions and to create a balanced squad for future competitions.”
The U.S. will kick off their Nations League campaign on March 20 against Panama at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. This tournament will be one of the few remaining opportunities for the top pool of players to train together before the 2026 World Cup.
In this match, Steffen was one of eight changes to the starting lineup from the previous game against Venezuela. Among the three players who retained their starting positions was defender Miles Robinson, who made his first international start at right-back. The lineup also saw the inclusion of central defenders Tim Ream and Walker Zimmerman, along with left-back DeJuan Jones, Luna in midfield, winger Indiana Vassilev, and White. Notably, Ream and Zimmerman became the first pair of over-30 non-goalkeepers to start since Ream and Michael Bradley in 2019.
- Key Players: Brian White, Zack Steffen, Caden Clark, Patrick Agyemang
- Upcoming Match: U.S. vs. Panama on March 20
- Coach’s Insight: Pochettino emphasizes the value of non-traditional players
Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.
Originally Written by: ESPN
