E. Granados enters the game and replaces C. Borges.
90'
A USA free kick from Lee Nguyen is grabbed by Navas. Costa Rica immediately hits on the counter, as Urena runs right past Nguyen, forcing Howard into an excellent save.
88'
F. Calvo enters the game and replaces Ó. Duarte.
The combination of Diskerud and Nguyen have been slightly better at getting some things going forward, but that's not saying a whole lot.
87'
B. Wood gets yellow.
K. Waston gets yellow.
83'
The USA is continuing to struggle to create anything. Nothing doing in the final third.
Part of that is simply the struggles of the central midfield to control passes at this point. There aren't many opportunities going forward to create good chances in the final third.
79'
M. Orozco gets yellow.
Orozco, who has had a rough second half, fouls behind the play setting up a dangerous free kick. But the ensuing kick is blasted over the ball.
77'
Another Costa Rican attack down the left results in more danger. The play ended up being offside, though Evans blocks another ball going into the net.
The meltdown on the USA left probably lends credence to the idea Tim Ream might have an argument to be the starting LB.
76'
D. Colindres enters the game and replaces J. Venegas.
72'
A. Wooten enters the game and replaces G. Zardes.
D. Williams gets yellow.
L. Nguyễn enters the game and replaces B. Shea.
The free kick hits off a Costa Rican player and deflects, dangerously, over the bar.
71'
This are unraveling now as Spector loses the ball and can't catch up with Campbell, leading to Williams hauling him down near the edge of the area. It's a yellow, and probably a necessary one, for Williams.
Minute
Description
70'
J. Campbell has scored a goal for Costa Rica! Assist by D. Myrie.
69'
GOAL! Costa Rica, it's Campbell!
A ball down the USA left has no one chasing it, and the low cross played back across the area finds Campbell, who fires it low past Howard. The USA rightfully punished.
68'
D. Myrie enters the game and replaces C. Gamboa.
Great chance for Urena as he splits the pairing of Alvarado and Orozco, but the chance goes begging!
66'
B. Evans gets yellow.
A free kick for Costa Rica in a dangerous area is cleared temporarily by the USA, resulting in a long shot that threatens nothing.
64'
J. Spector enters the game and replaces T. Ream.
A promising spell of a possession for the USA comes to naught as Yedlin and Zardes are unable to tee up a shot after struggling to control the passes to one another.
63'
Tim Ream, who had a solid game tonight, is coming off for Jonathan Spector.
58'
Another bad giveaway by Williams, which results in a Campbell shot which Howard tips over. The ensuing corner Howard is able to snag easily.
57'
D. Yedlin gets yellow.
56'
The Ticos get a corner that creates a couple of nervy moments for the USA, but pressure is relieved as Wood is able to get on the end of clear, using pace and strength.
55'
Yedlin with a foul to break up an attack, after being slow to react off a throw in, resulting in a yellow card.
54'
R. Matarrita enters the game and replaces B. Oviedo.
Wood pops up again, combining with Zardes. His run is broken up as the Costa Rican defense and Navas collapse on him, but he's already made more of an impact than Altidore has.
53'
More of the same from the US central midfield, this time with Diskerud unable to win a ball after Ream breaks up an attack. If the USA wants to play out of the back, it will need much more from its midfielders.
52'
A decent moment for Williams, as he gets over to snuff out a potential Costa Rica at midfield, getting the ball off Campbell and putting it out to touch.
51'
A Brek Shea corner is cleared but not far, allowing the USA to recycle possession. Unfortunately, Yedlin's ball to Wood is snatched easily by Navas.
49'
Another poor giveaway by Williams leads to a sustained spell of possession. A threatening ball out wide is just out of reach though, so the USA escapes.
47'
Orozco completely misjudges a ball, free Urena to run in against Howard. But Alvarado sprints back to break up the play - a good first effort for the under-fire center back.
46'
B. Wood enters the game and replaces J. Altidore.
M. Diskerud enters the game and replaces J. Jones.
V. Alvarado enters the game and replaces G. Cameron.
And we're off for the second half!
Bobby Wood gets on the end of a low diagonal ball, but is unable to beat two defenders.
45'
And that's the half.
42'
Then Costa Rica strikes back! A cross that gets through leads to a yawning net for Venegas but the shot hits Evans, and doesn't go in!
41'
After a spell of possession, Ream delivers the best cross from open play tonight as it finds Yedlin perfectly in the area, but the winger is unable to get anything on the shot!
39'
38'
The first touch simply has not been there for many of the USA players tonight and vitally, Zardes, who has shown for the ball well but has not been able to control it with consistency.
37'
J. Jones gets yellow.
36'
A bit dangerous from the USA, as Borges is allowed to take a shot from distance with little pressure. However the shot goes straight to Howard, who recovers after a momentary spill.
35'
Jones visibly upset after a foul draws him a yellow, but it looks like he's annoyed at Evans, not the ref.
33'
Little better from the United States, but still not a whole lot going on offensively. Lots of possession in the back and some on the flanks, but nothing in the center of the park.
32'
Shea, after his pass is not cleanly handled, wins back possession well and is taken down. Somehow, that wasn't a yellow card.
29'
Shea with a solid free kick towards the backpost which Ream gets his head to, forcing Navas into a solid reaction save at the post. Best chance of the game for the USA.
28'
Costa Rica with a little sustained spell. Yedlin makes a key challenge to temporarily slow the attack and the resulting shot from the edge of the area goes well wide.
27'
The USA has possession but most of it is in its half of the field. Costa Rica is pressing and taking away the shorter options in the midfield, leading to more long balls. However, neither Zardes nor Altidore is doing a great job at winning those balls.
23'
Costa Rica is very comfortable pressing the USA defense right now. The USA seems incapable of making either multiple threatening passes or not making a mistake in its first touch right now.
22'
Campbell completely fakes out Shea, which allows him space, but the US defense recovers and forces him out for a goal kick.
19'
Cameron plays himself into some trouble at the back. But fortunately for him, the ensuing battle for the ball results in a goal kick.
17'
J. Acosta gets yellow.
Rough tackle by Acosta on Williams on a 50/50 ball. He went in two-footed... it gets a yellow but was arguably a red.
15'
The USA is once again gaining the edge in possession, though so far it hasn't been threatening.
12'
Williams with another rough touch and giveaway under pressure in his own end, but the USA retains its structure better this time around and no real chance is generated.
11'
After spending most of the first 10 minutes on the ball, the United States is having to defend a bit as the Ticos enjoy some possession.
10'
Costa Rica with another attack forward, but Campbell's ball to Oviedo is a touch too far and Howard is able to collect.
7'
The USA centerbacks are trying to hit longballs to the forward players but the first touch for the players are letting them down. That one does come to Shea, but his cross is disappointing and nothing comes of it.
5'
Williams with a terrible first touch leads to Costa Rica break, but Cameron forces pressure and then Orozco comes in with a sliding tackle to break up the attack. Good effort by the center backs to make up for the midfielder's mistake.
4'
Costa Rica gets its first attack forward with Urena rushing forward. He ends up settling for a tough angle shot that rolls into Howard.
3'
Shea takes the free kick and skies it over the bar.
2'
Much more aggressive already from the United States, trying to win back ball after losing possession. A turnover results in Danny Williams bursting forward and winning a free kick.
1'
And we're off!
Hello and welcome to the LIVE call of the friendly between the United States and Costa Rica, taking place at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. I'm Ben Valentine, and I'll be taking you through tonight's action.
It will be interesting to see what the USA shows tonight. After a deflating loss to Mexico in the CONCACAF, what kind of effort do we see from the players, especially from the newcomers in the lineup aiming to position themselves for World Cup qualifying, which kicks off next month.
For the United States a straight 4-4-2: Howard; Evans, Cameron, Orozco, Ream; Yedlin, Williams, Jones, Shea; Zardes, Altidore. Jurgen Klinsmann going with two more traditional wingers, as opposed to his set up against Mexico which featured Jones, a central player and Zardes, who is more of a striker.
For Costa Rica, what looks like a 5-3-2: 1-Navas; 2-Acosta, 25-Waston, 14-Oviedo, 6-Duarte, 16-Gamboa; 11-Venegas, 5-Borges, 20-Guzman; 21-Urena, 12-Campbell
Both teams will be looking to get themselves set up for World Cup qualifying after poor summers. The United States had its semifinal Gold Cup defeat and the loss Saturday. Meanwhile Costa Rica was one of the pre-tournament Gold Cup favorites, and was bounced in the quarterfinals in contraversial fashion by Mexico after a disappointing group stage performance.
Not exactly a half to remember the USA. The positives? Higher work rate for the most part and a pretty good showing by the backline of Evans, Cameron, Orozco and Ream.
The bad news? The midfield and forwards aren't contributing much of anything. The central midfield duo of Williams and Jones has been largely invisible going forward and the wingers have not done a lot.
Zardes is working hard and popping up in areas, but his touch has often let him down. You could be excused at thinking Jozy Altidore isn't on the field right now.
Yedlin has had a few moments but squandered a golden chance. Shea has also had a few bright spots, including a free kick that could have resulted in a goal, but his poor track back resulted in Costa Rica's best chance of the night.
The USA could use a bit more creativity in the second half. Perhaps Lee Nguyen? And maybe Wood for Altidore.
Reports are the USA will make three changes at the half: Diskerud for Jones, Wood for Altidore and Alvarado for Cameron.
And that's it! Costa Rica takes a 1-0 win, which could have been worse for the USA.
The result in itself is not really the most troubling aspect tonight. Many of the players tonight simply seemed incapable of doing basic things. First touches were horrid across the board. Midfielders turning it over in dangerous positions.
The list of players who looked good tonight was short. Bobby Wood showed effort over Altidore. Cameron held well. Ream did a decent job at slowing things down on the left. Howard was reliable in goal. And that's about it.
Evans also battled well.
But Altidore, Williams, Nguyen not tracking back, Diskerud, Yedlin, Zardes, Shea and Spector simply did not produce or at times, keep focus.
It will be an interesting roster for the USA when it kicks off World Cup qualifying next month against St. Vincent and the Grenadines, that's for sure. Whoever is selecting it.
And with that, have a good night all. This is Ben Valentine, signing off.
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