Men’s soccer | United States looks to rebound in hostile environment

However, the draw lifted both teams onto four points in the group in the fifth round of qualifying. Klinsmann’s sides have been weirdly flat when they play in Central America and have only won once, against Panama thanks to the “San Zusi” goal in 2013.

Costa Rica, which won its opener 2-0 at Trinidad and Tobago, went ahead after a Brooks giveaway.

Jurgen Klinsmann did not even attempt to sugarcoat his reaction to the performance of his United States team after their 4-0 humiliation in a World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on Tuesday. “We’re going to have to look collectively real hard in the mirror at ourselves and understand it’s not been a good start”.

The loss sinks the U.S. to 0-9-1 all-time in World Cup qualifiers in Costa Rica.

Then came the start of the hexagonal, as the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region is known, and it could not have gone much worse.

The Yanks continued to struggle despite fielding almost an identical lineup, and in a 4-4-2 shape, to the one that controlled the second half vs. Mexico on Friday.

A loss to Costa Rica would leave the US with two losses to start the Hex, uncharted territory for the Americans in the modern World Cup qualifying era. That’s a stretch considering they just played their two toughest opponents. “Sometimes they need a wakeup call to get it really going”. Bolanos beat Brooks to the ball and sent a header across Guzan for his seventh goal in 30 global appearances.

“This is the defeat that hurts the most in my five years here, there’s no doubt about it”. He couldn’t finish those runs.

Klinsmann: “I take responsibility and it is no problem”.

There is little reason for optimism after last Friday’s loss at home against Mexico, with the U.S. looking uninspired from the start, as they lined up in an experimental 3-5-2 formation against their biggest foes in the region.

Rather than taking the USA forward to become a major power capable of asserting itself on the world stage, he had presided over a 4-0 defeat more in keeping with the dark years in which even reaching the World Cup was a challenge. Klinsmann blamed defender John Brooks. “We will think about what happened and talk with Jurgen and evaluate the situation”. In the current qualifying States successfully passed the fourth stage of qualifying, came out of the group from the first place, but in the first leg of the fifth stage, the U.S. team lost to Mexico – 2: 1. Despite that possibility, and the fact that the US has never won here, there is a tangible sense of confidence in the American team heading into the match.

“It’s a very different stadium than Saprissa, but the atmosphere, it doesn’t change”, said Bradley, who missed the 2013 match after injuring an ankle during warmups.

Combined with Friday’s 2-1 loss to Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, the US team finds itself in a quick deficit in the 10-match hexagonal, which resumes in March.

Things would get worse in the second half. In the 68th minute, Costa Rica had a breakaway and beat the back line again to score off the foot of Christian Bolanos. “When they support us like that, it’s incredible”.

US vs CRC Preview: The USMNT comes into the game tonight with a lot of uncertainty.

Aside from goalkeeper Brad Guzan replacing the injured Tim Howard, Klinsmann stuck with the starting lineup from the Mexico match and retained the 4-4-2 formation that he had switched to late in the first half after an ominous start Friday. Chandler was out of position on the right side, and on a floated ball toward the corner, center back Omar Gonzalez was slow to track Bolaños and close down space.

If some positives could be taken from last Friday’s home defeat to Mexico, there was little of solace that could be salvaged here. Klinsmann anticipates having a January training camp that will include one or two exhibitions.

With the proper coaching, all hope is not lost for the US team – as the roster is now constructed, it’s not outside the realm of reality to think this team can make up four points in eight games.