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Played
September 2, 2011 11:00 PM EDT
The Home Depot Center — Carson, California
Referee: J. Molina
September 2, 2011 11:00 PM EDT
The Home Depot Center — Carson, California
Referee: J. Molina
USA 0-1 Costa Rica: Los Ticos hand Jurgen Klinsmann his first loss
A 66th minute Rodney Wallace goal separated the two sides as Jurgen Klinsmann suffered the first loss of his stint in charge of the United States.
By Zac Lee Rigg
Kevork Djansezian
CARSON, Calif. - Costa Rica handed Jurgen Klinsmann his first loss as U.S. national team boss in a 1-0 decision in front of 15,798 at the Home Depot Center.
Portland Timbers midfielder Rodney Wallace, making his international debut, scored the only goal of the game to separate the sides.
Despite the loss, Klinsmann remained positive.
"From a performance point of view it was very very positive," the German-born coach said. "There was confidence there, there was technical ability there. From what we trained and how they implemented, it was very good."
With interim coach Ronald Gonzalez already knowing that Jorge Luis Pinto will take over after this match, Costa Rica started sloppily. Los Ticos also missed the sharpness of strikers Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz, who both made moves to London clubs this summer.
The USA took charge in the opening minutes and carved out a handful of chances. Landon Donovan, in particular, was guilty of spurning finishes, tucking a Brek Shea feed wide at the far post and putting a free kick onto the top of the goal.
Los Ticos slowly found their feet as the match progressed and took the lead in the second half. Real Salt Lake striker Alvaro Saborio broke the offside trap and pulled the ball back into the box. Tim Howard managed to paw away Michael Barrantes' stinging effort, but substitute Rodney Wallace pushed a diving header into the back of the net from the rebound.
The United States lacked the second-half injection of pace it had received against Mexico in Klinsmann's first game and couldn't find a way back into the match. Kinsmann admitted the fitness of his players isn't where he wants it yet.
"The physical part of it, that's again where we need to step up a bit more, be more hungry," he said.
Brek Shea was the liveliest U.S. attacker, but he had difficulties connecting with others. Late in the match he juked his marker to cut into the box, but pushed Chivas USA defender Michael Umana over the advancing once he lost the ball. After a scuffle with several Costa Rican players confronting him, both Shea and Sacha Kljestan were issued yellow cards.
Nick Rosano contributed additional reporting.
Follow ZAC LEE RIGG on
or shoot him an email.
Portland Timbers midfielder Rodney Wallace, making his international debut, scored the only goal of the game to separate the sides.
Despite the loss, Klinsmann remained positive.
"From a performance point of view it was very very positive," the German-born coach said. "There was confidence there, there was technical ability there. From what we trained and how they implemented, it was very good."
With interim coach Ronald Gonzalez already knowing that Jorge Luis Pinto will take over after this match, Costa Rica started sloppily. Los Ticos also missed the sharpness of strikers Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz, who both made moves to London clubs this summer.
The USA took charge in the opening minutes and carved out a handful of chances. Landon Donovan, in particular, was guilty of spurning finishes, tucking a Brek Shea feed wide at the far post and putting a free kick onto the top of the goal.
Los Ticos slowly found their feet as the match progressed and took the lead in the second half. Real Salt Lake striker Alvaro Saborio broke the offside trap and pulled the ball back into the box. Tim Howard managed to paw away Michael Barrantes' stinging effort, but substitute Rodney Wallace pushed a diving header into the back of the net from the rebound.
The United States lacked the second-half injection of pace it had received against Mexico in Klinsmann's first game and couldn't find a way back into the match. Kinsmann admitted the fitness of his players isn't where he wants it yet.
"The physical part of it, that's again where we need to step up a bit more, be more hungry," he said.
Brek Shea was the liveliest U.S. attacker, but he had difficulties connecting with others. Late in the match he juked his marker to cut into the box, but pushed Chivas USA defender Michael Umana over the advancing once he lost the ball. After a scuffle with several Costa Rican players confronting him, both Shea and Sacha Kljestan were issued yellow cards.
Nick Rosano contributed additional reporting.
Follow ZAC LEE RIGG on
or shoot him an email.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Oleh Husyev
Midfielder Ukraine |
4 | 2 |
|
Michael Mifsud
Striker Malta |
4 | 0 |
|
Carlos Ruiz Gutierrez
Striker Guatemala |
4 | 0 |
|
Mohir Shukurov
Midfielder Azerbaijan |
3 | 2 |
|
Robin van Persie
Striker Netherlands |
3 | 1 |