United States of America 0-2 Costa Rica

This loss really tightens up the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings and makes for some nervous games ahead for the USMNT.

Costa Rica picked up another three points in the standings to remain in second place, now six points ahead of the US, which sits in third place, one point ahead of Panama.

As for Tuesday in the heat of Honduras, and the now not certain prospects of qualifying, Arena attempted to keep the loss, and the other results around the Hex, in perspective.

But while Mexico celebrated, arch-rivals the USA were left contemplating a road to Russian Federation that has suddenly become much more uncertain following their 2-0 loss to 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica in Harrison, New Jersey.

With three games left in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, the United States was clinging to third place – the last automatic berth – and results later Friday could drop the US down the standings.

Star goalie Keylor Navas came up with some exciting saves on messy, nail-biting plays.

When the USA and Costa Rica locks up inside the States’ borders, an American victory has been a near certainty. If the team Costa Rica wins today’s team, they will easily enter the World Cup Qualifying 2018. USA defender Tim Ream hit a bouncing header that went just over the crossbar to start the second half. “They outplayed us and outcoached us tonight”.

Costa Rica laid the thunder on the Americans for the second consecutive year, following the 4-0 drubbing back in November. “Our backline made some mistakes, we didn’t come up with any big saves and our attacking players weren’t unsafe on the night”, Arena said.

“We’ll respond in a big way, like we always try to do”, captain Michael Bradley said.

For only the fourth time in 32 years, the United States lost a home qualifier, and as it turned out, the first World Cup game ever in the metropolitan area. They also swarmed Pulisic any time he was near the ball, taking away the Americans’ best player for extended stretches. Making matters worse, the US center backs, Geoff Cameron and Tim Ream, had a bad night on the ball. That said, it was probably asking too much of him to start when he had only played 10 minutes at club level this season due to a back injury. Cameron’s give-away pass in his own end led directly to Costa Rica’s second goal.

“We got split there, our center backs, which shouldn’t happen”, Arena said. This is how you deal in competition and sports. But the call didn’t go the US’ way, which set the tone for the rest of the night. “We’re ready to go down to the wire to get ourselves into the World Cup”.

Cameron’s gaffe led to Urena’s 13th goal in 56 global appearances.

Panama has been a tricky team to judge this qualifying campaign because while they have just one victory to show for themselves, the Canaleros have taken points in five of their seven matches and only conceded five goals in that span.