Team USA Buries Costa Rica 1-0 in World Cup Qualifier

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The US Men’s soccer team got a big win and three valuable points in a very memorable game with near white out conditions in Denver, Colorado on Friday night, March 22, 2013.

Clint Dempsey punched in the games only goal in the 16th minute after a deflected ball landed in front of him in the middle of the goal area. The game will go down as controversial because the build up of snow changed the style of the game. It was odd to see so much snow on the field. One could barely see the ball (color yellow) or the US players (white uniforms). The Costa Rican coach Pinto was upset and quipped that the game should have been stopped. FIFA rules require that the pitch lines are clearly visible for the referees. In the 55th minute, the game was temporarily stopped by the referee. In a bizarre scene that left the announcers asking questions, the referee appeared to stop the game after talking to players, coaches and referees. Surprisingly he motioned for play to continue. The US coach Jurgen Klinsman felt team USA had an advantage and pushed to finish the match.

The US did dominate the first half of the game culminating with Dempsey’s goal. In the 42 minute, Dempsey was tripped and taken down in the penalty box but the referees missed the call. Things changed in the second half and Costa Rica shockingly took control of the game and put pressure on goal keeper Brad Guzan. The Costa Ricans had a goal disallowed due to a valid offside call in the 7oth minute. The US focused more on defense toward the end of the game and escaped with the 3 points. The win is something for the US to build on and it gives them a much greater chance of qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil 2014. Team USA next faces Mexico on Tuesday, March 26, 2013.

-Bourke MacDonald
IFX Blogger

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