Klinsmann adds five players ahead of Costa Rica friendly

But despite receiving extended playing time, the United States’ fresh legs couldn’t inject much energy or build substantive momentum in advance of 2018 World Cup qualifying. A few veterans, like Kyle Beckerman, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley were either allowed to return to their club teams or given the night off.

It’s also the first three-match home soil losing streak for the USA since 1997.

The game was goalless at halftime.

Bobby Wood, who scored to even the game at 2-2 against Mexico remains on the bench, so too are Jonathan Spector, Andrew Wooten and Lee Nguyen.

Joel Campbell scored in the 70th minute, and Costa Rica beat the listless US 1-0 in an exhibition Tuesday night in Harrison, New Jersey.

Canada played with only 10 players the entire second half after midfielder Giuliano Frano received a second yellow card before halftime.

With several new faces in the lineup from Saturday’s squad, including Tim Howard in goal, it was a performance that did little to excite a down fan base of the US.

Ream was a strong presence for the States in an unsteady half, and his late cross for DeAndre Yedlin was mishit on goal. The Americans struggled to create chances all match long and never looked cohesive or risky.

But they finally opened the scoring two minutes later through Campbell.

Both teams will enter the CONCACAF semifinal round of World Cup qualifying next month. That said, none of those Costa Rican sprints toward goal resulted in any real danger, and the US continued to make the opposition defend at high rates over the first 25 minutes or so.

Brad Evans, a defensive bright spot for the USA, blocked what looked to be another sure goal from Costa Rica in the 77th minute.

USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann may well be facing the biggest crisis of his management tenure, but may get the opportunity to see his side bounce back against Costa Rica in a match that the USA would normally be favorites to win.