Klinsmann stunned by US’ 4-0 mauling

The United States was already on its way to losing.

Last time out: The U.S. surrendered a late goal and lost at home to rival Mexico, the first home WCQ loss in 15 years.

The Arsenal striker, who is on loan to Sporting Lisbon, completed the rout of the USA when he added a fourth three minutes later. With the score 1-0 at halftime, Klinsmann had a chance to make a move or two to change the tenor of the match.

Having also fallen to a last-gasp defeat at home to Mexico at the weekend, Tuesday’s result – the nation’s worst loss in a World Cup qualifier since 1957 – left US bottom of the Hexagonal phase.

This year play improved at the Copa America, where wins over Ecuador and Paraguay advanced the USA into the semis were they lost 4-0 to Argentina.

The USMNT’s 4-0 loss to Costa Rica on Tuesday was basically a 90-minute showcase on how not to defend and how not to show up for a World Cup qualifier.

On Monday night the Borussia Dortmund rising star started on the left wing in a 4-4-2, again drifted inward later in the game before being subbed off.

In the Hexagonal stage, Round 5, Costa Rica is standing in the first position with 3 points in the World Cup Qualifying – CONCACAF standing Table.

Instead, assuming Gulati keeps the faith, he has to manufacture a way to conjure greater spirit and motivation from a group that was utterly dejected as it left Costa Rica. 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.

“I understand that when you lose two games and especially two World Cup qualifiers right after each other, that there will be a lot of comments”, he told reporters.

The Ticos eventually were rewarded in the 44th minute when a John Brooks turnover and lax defending from Omar Gonzalez allowed Johan Venegas to head home Bolanos’ cross.

“It’s definitely the defeat that hurts the most in my five years, for sure”, Klinsmann said after watching Costa Rica dismantle his team on a sultry night at San Jose’s Estadio Nacional.

Outside the room, United States Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati expressed patience.

Tuesday night though was even worse, the United States of America hammered 4-0 by Costa Rica in San Jose.

The Tico’s soon replied to that attack with a goal via Venegas, putting Costa Rica 1-0 up in the waning minutes of the first half.

“The reality is that it is a unique situation”, captain Michael Bradley said.

The U.S. now has four months to reflect on Tuesday’s performance – which followed a 2-1 loss to Mexico – before resuming qualifying in late March, when it plays host to Honduras before going on the road to Panama. Defender Timothy Chandler and midfielder Jermaine Jones accrued their second yellow cards of the hexagonal.

It got worse for U.S. in the 68th minute as Bolanos got past Timothy Chandler to double Costa Rica’s lead.