US looks for first ever win in Costa Rica

The U.S. national team plays Costa Rica tonight in a World Cup qualifier (ESPN2/10 p.m. ET).  The US currently sits at the top of the standings with 7 points and Costa Rica is second with 6.  The US is 0-6-1 when playing in Costa Rica, but holds a 11-10-5 edge overall. To steal a nugget from the US MNT blog, the only two members of the team to ever score against Costa Rica are Landon Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra. There’s 25 members of the team in Costa Rica, but only 18 can dress – the final roster will be announced closer to kickoff.

There’s been a lot of talk about how the US hasn’t ever won in Costa Rica, but the players can’t let that bother them. They need to stay calm, play smart and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.

Final Round – CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Standings
1. USA – 7 pts.
2. Costa Rica – 6 pts.
3. Honduras – 4 pts.
4. Mexico – 3 pts.
5. El Salvador – 2 pts.
6. Trinidad & Tobago – 2 pts.