Costa Rica’s Revenge on the US

By | September 9, 2013

The US Men’s National Team fell 3-1 against Costa Rica during their qualifying match this past Friday. Many have drawn comparisons to when the US lost in Costa Rica in 2009. Both were World Cup qualifiers, both 3-1 defeats, and both saw Costa Rica take an early lead and hold it throughout the match.

I am drawn to consider how the more recent match in March of this year may have impacted Friday’s match: the World Cup qualifier played just five months ago in Colorado. Costa Rica protested the US 1-0 victory, saying that the snowstorm had compromised the “physical integrity” of the players and officials. Here is a quick reminder of the conditions they were talking about:

Their appeal, however, was rejected.

Fast forward five and a half months and the US is traveling to Costa Rica for a qualifying match, and the resentment is still fierce. The team was forced through public customs lines to be derailed by the local fans. Practice locations were shuffled around. The US was denied a practice ball of the same kind to be used in the match. Taxi drivers slowed the team down on their progress to the field. The crowd volume in the stadium was even measured at an earth-shattering 96 decibels! These are not ideal conditions for the US team and clearly gave Costa Rica the home field advantage. The US was shaken and it showed on the pitch. Costa Rica got their revenge, taking an early lead and showing that the location of a match and the crowd can truly influence the results.

One thought on “Costa Rica’s Revenge on the US

  1. Balser

    J’ai trouvé une vidéo sur YouTube avec Keith Olbermann. Dans la vidéo il discutes une “nouvelle rivalité” entre les équipes.

    Reply

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