Costa Rica vs USA: Match Preview and Prediction

Costa Rica vs USA
CONCACAF 2018 World Cup Qualifiers – 5th Round.
Date: Wednesday, 16th November 2016.
Kick-off at 2:05 am UK,
Venue: Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San Jose.

Costa Rica kicked off the fifth round of World Cup Qualifiers in style with a comfortable 2-0 win away at Trinidad and Tobago. The 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter finals are on an excellent run of form this year and have picked up 5 straight wins in all competitions. And they will face USA for the second round fixture, a team that thrashed them 4-0 to hand their last defeat when the sides met at the Copa America Centenario on June 2016.

USA conceded late in their first round fixture to suffer a narrow 2-1 defeat against Mexicans. The fixture was always going to be tricky affair, however the Stars and Stripes were unbeaten against the Central Americans at home in the last 7 qualifying games. The Jurgen Klinsmann managed side had a similar start with turbulence in the fourth round, but got out of jail by picking up three wins in a row scoring 18 goals without reply.

Three out of the six teams will earn direct qualification to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Together with Mexico and Costa Rica, USA are firm favourites to finish inside the top three. The team that finished fourth will have a second chance to try their luck through the intercontinental play-off.

Costa Rica vs USA: Head-to-Head Stats

The latest meeting between the two sides was at the Copa America Centenario tournament on June 2016. USA earned a massive 4-0 win to eliminate Costa Rica from the competition from the group stage.

There are no draws in the last 6 meetings between Costa Rica and USA and they share 3 wins each during the period. If you look at the extended history, only 3 from the last 15 meetings between the two sides in all competitions have seen draws.

Costa Rica on the other hand are unbeaten at home against USA in the last 9 meetings, picking up 8 straight wins from the last 8. USA’s last visit to Costa Rica ended in a 3-1 defeat on September 2013.

Costa Rica vs USA: Predictions

Costa Rica are arguably one of the most balanced sides in the CONCACAF zone. They also have a daunting record in home games and will push forward for another win on Tuesday evening. They are on a 5 match winning streak in all competitions and venues. At the same time, Costa Rica haven’t lost in their last 9 home matches in the qualifiers and kept 6 clean sheets.

USA are no pushover and they are a hard-working unit. But they have a poor record while playing away at Costa Rica. And this could once again result in a bad day at office for Klinsmann and co.