Jurgen Klinsmann demands angry U.S. ahead of Costa Rica tie — CONCACAF qualifiers

The United States failed to respond to a 2-1 loss to Mexico and is in early trouble in the final automatic qualifying round.

The United States faces Costa Rica in a crucial World Cup qualifier match on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016.

In the Americans’ first qualifying match at Costa Rica, John Kerr scored in the 44th minute off Jeff Hooker’s cross after Mike Windischmann long pass down a flank, to gain a 1-1 draw on May 26, 1985, at Estadio Alejandro Moreira in Alajuela, about 13 miles from San Jose.

The loss is a setback for the United States but not a devastating blow because it still has nine matches left in the six-team, home-and-away round-robin “Hex” tournament. Ahead of the Costa Rica trip, the Americans lost 2-1 to Mexico in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, their first ever loss to Mexico in that city in World Cup qualifying.

“It’s a bitter moment for us”.

“You want to make sure that you’re not falling behind, so that gives it a little more spice here tomorrow night”, US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.

“We didn’t imagine we’d start the Hexagonal with two defeats right at the beginning”.

Four months is a long time in soccer, and that is how long the US has to wait for its next pair of qualifiers, a home game against Honduras followed by a visit to Panama.

It’s an outcome that is sufficiently likely for U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati to feel compelled to address it preemptively. “There’s obviously some concern”. Having just two midfielders in the middle of the park can leave you exposed if you don’t control the ball, and that’s exactly what happened.

At halftime, manager Jurgen Klinsmann opted to make zero changes, which even at the time was questionable.

While there remain plenty of points to play for in the six-nation round robin, the U.S. are desperate to avoid losing further ground to Mexico and Costa Rica, their biggest rivals for the automatic qualification spots.

He insisted he is the right person to lead the team. Wood has seemed to really enjoy playing Mexico as that is his second goal against them in as many games. Klinsmann can take solace from two things, though: the visiting team won all three qualifying openers last week and despite losing its home game to Mexico, the USA dominated the last 60 minutes.

These teams met in the group stage of Copa America Centenario, with US needing a win even moreso than tonight. “So anybody who thinks that is sorely mistaken”. A noticeable lack of communication with Omar Gonzalez on the right side of defense. Geoff Cameron, who usually starts alongside Brooks, missed both qualifiers this month after hyperextending a knee during Stoke’s Premier League match against Hull on October 22. Costa Rica won tonight [a 2-0 win at tricky Trinidad and Tobago]. Gonzalez didn’t close down Bolanos, who crossed for Venegas just outside the 6-yard box.

The Hertha Berlin centre-half made a frightful hash of clearing a long ball forward and Campbell pounced to race clean through on goal, calmly tucking away past Guzan. Costa Rica sub Joel Campbell scored twice in four minutes in the second half.

MLS fans will recognize some of the standouts in the lineup – Christian Bolanos, Ronald Matarrita, and Kendall Waston. Campbell easily then poked it past Guzan in the 74th minute. He was a step behind all night on the slick, chunked-up turf. They can get us in trouble, and no one wants that. Costa Rica, in what was their best World Cup result, finished atop their World Cup group in Brazil, beating Uruguay and Italy before drawing with England. The USMNT has plenty of time to recover with its next match not until March against Honduras. A spectacular second-half burst put an exclamation point on Costa Rica’s victory, as Bolanos headed home the second on 68 minutes, before speedy substitute Campbell added two more thanks to breakaways.

Guzan’s save on Brian Ruiz’s bicycle kick in the 14th minute kept the match scoreless.

US forward Bobby Wood races Kendall Waston, right, to ball in first half.

There were very few positives, but in the spirit of selecting one, Christian Pulisic and Bobby Wood showed some creativity in the rare instances that they touched the ball. Wood slid the ball behind Navas in the 41st, but the USA didn’t have anyone in front.

This match isn’t a must-win for the US, but the home loss to Mexico means the Yanks will need to try to find a way to at least earn a point on the road.