USMNT v Costa Rica
The early going, 4’ has been rather choppy, the US has been able to hold the ball though not doing much with it and the Ticos have been pressing. The visitors play better as a unit, are more familiar with each other it seems. A lot of grabbing in the 6 as a corner is coming up for the Ticos. Headed out by the US, they will do it all over again. Into the middle of the area and Steffan has it no issues. This is his 30th game for his country. Luna gets it in his offensive third, his pass off the mark and it goes well into his defensive end, going end line is Gutierrez, then it’s over the end line he takes the corner, short to Luna now across the box a bit more central above it and out a bit, now a bit more and a wall pass to just beyond the area and Vassilev is high and low trying to emulate McGlynn from the other day? White who is lighting up MLS since leaving the Red Bulls is now the leading goal scorer for his historic North American club team, Whitecaps, just can’t quite get to a driven ball by Ream. Cremaschi gets schooled then defends the ball out for a throw, then a corner. White plays a ball back between two defenders both freeze and it’s a deep throw for Costa Rica. A few nice combos for the US and the pressure of Gutierrez leads to another corner that he will send in. Near post for Ream and into the area, deflected and Gutierrez goes side netting. More great ball movement gets it in the area but the US must shots off of these opportunities. Luna was upended and now bleeding into a towel from his nose on the touchline, he also caught an errant elbow. . McGllynn of Queens and Clark of late with the Red Bulls and others are now up. Steffan skies a bit on a high arcing ball probably destined to go out of play? Luna has his nose packed and is back in with a new top. Luna finds White who paints the corner at 21’, could not have happened to a nicer guy, his first for the NT. Receives with his right, defender closing on him shots it with his left and under the net minder. White with 15 goals in each of his last MLS seasons his output the Red Bulls dearly missed out on. Luna a bit surprised to find the ball at his feet, if he took a quick first time shot…Cremaschi has a player run up his back at about 40 yards headed for the end line and another corner, Gutierrez to the restart as he will this corner. Near post and White is there, right into the GK on a first time shot. Luna finds White, another shot turned away and the following player can’t touch it home with 2 players on it, Brian shows his quality. Ream looking to flick on another corner as White scored wants another corner. A deep throw in for the home team. A ball in comes back and a Tico skies it from just beyond the area. Steffan called into action from the left side and parries it out of danger. Steffan saves a long distance bomb destined for the upper corner, at full extension he steers the knuckle ball shot over the top of the bar. Luna picks a pass and a card must be shown, as he gets tied up by his mark, it’s a caution. Guttierez skies one and the GK grabs it, Robinson was near the GK who did run into him but still gets cautioned, at 40’. Not a well timed one. White takes a player on he goes to ground, Brian, airborne not a foul. He returns the favor at midfield, Guttierez with a few times to pull the trigger, lets one fly and blocked out of play. Again Gutierrez, finds White a tough ball but his first touch should have been a shot at about 10 yards. Parkins of Costa Rica is down. He is the player White upended. The pressure by the Ticos has caused some anxious moments for the US.
There are goals left in this game if the US gets theirs first it would be of great help. The light pressure of Costa Rica, I expect to get amped up.
McGlynn will be in Miljovic and Clark as both change a trio of players. Now a number of Red Bulls and a NY product may be on the field at once. Luna, Guttierez and Cremaschi are out for the US. Guttierez was having himself a game. Ream, Clark and White come out of the Red Bulls, McGlynn of the historic BW Gottschee in Queens. White with a driven ball into Clark is taken away as it goes long. A ball in driven out by Ream is to the foot of a red shirted opponent. Rojas beats a pair of US players on the wing. A lead ball on the wing creates problems at the end line as it goes in then out a bit, but a pair of US players facing each other has the one facing the goal come away with it, that is not usual. So many 10 yard if that long passes in the area and the US coughs it up, now the Ticos are knocking on the door at the opponents area, Jones clears, but out of touch near midway. Perez with a wing and a prayer from a good 30 yards is several rows over the goal. Caden finds Jones and now to White he gets a player to slide wide, but his shot, also wide, far post. Just could not square his body to the goal as his touch was a bit awry. Clark skies a cross high and over the end line. Steffan stands on his head again, pushing it once more beyond the frame. The shot was way open, passed well and struck oh so right. Too strong of a cross gives the US a throw in their offensive third. Moore is up for the USA. 25 yards from the end line the US have a throw. Moore just behind a pass in the 6. At the hour mark the US is getting forward better, shots must be taken not little passes once in the area, those will not cross the goal line. A cut back freezes Ream then a nutmeg on another defender, but a foul saves the US from some pressure. Miljevic gave out a hard tackle, not called now he suffers one and a yellow is issued to the offending player, after a tackle, he sent his trailing leg into this calf. Steffan clears on to the foot of White, but it finds his hand. Espinoza with a hard tackle on Jones, McGlynn talks it over with a teammate. Arfsten arm and arm with coach is due in. McGlynn was fouled in the area or not, a yellow to Jack for simulation. Perez for Campos for Costa Rica. Miljevic carded, he did get the guy who showed his studs but not so sure the contact merited a card? A big push on Moore not called and the Ticos are near the end line. White out for Agyemang at 75’. The game is getting very sloppy on both sides now. Clark gets one at 77’ as he buries it. Past RBNY players 2-0 Costa Rica thus far, both now plying their trade in Canada. What a strike from Agyekmang with a goal at 90’ a lead ball taken in full stride, far post, his 2nd goal in as many games with 3’ of extra time.
These two games featured many with local ties, Ream in the back, goal scorers in both games McGlynn, today Clark & White were pros here same as Tim with RBNY, Freese the ‘keeper of NYCFC did not see the field, though it was great he was in fact in camp and rostered. Each scored their first goals as internationals, hoping not their last. Martino spoke glowingly of McGlynn throughout the broadcast that he has a great upside and was able to do as he wanted with the ball.