Costa Rica have been eliminated from Group A in the Copa América Centenario after Monday’s 4-0 loss to the United States with one game remaining in the group stage. Los Ticos have yet to find the back of the net, drawing 0-0 with Paraguay in their opening match before being blanked by the USMNT.
United forward Álvaro Saborío played a large part in Costa Rica’s attempt to knock out club teammate Steven Birnbaum and his American counterparts, replacing the injured Marco Ureña in the 18th minute after his side conceded a ninth-minute goal by Clint Dempsey, converting from the penalty spot. Saborío played the rest of the match and created chances throughout, holding up play, inviting teammates to attack and made a number of good attacking runs.
His play was to no avail, however, and though Costa Rica did their best to find the towering forward (the team had 26 crosses in the match), Saborío and Costa Rica couldn’t find the back of the net.
Costa Rica have remained with head coach Oscar Ramirez’s 5-4-1 defensive-style formation in their first two matches and as a result have yet to score. They only recorded six shots against Paraguay, with four on target and seven shots (two on target) against the U.S.
Costa Rica currently has five players on their Copa America squad who are in the MLS: Alvaro Saborio [DC United], Johan Venagas [Montreal Impact], Kendall Waston [Vancouver Whitecaps], Christian Bolaños [Vancouver Whitecaps] and Ronald Matarrita [New York City FC].
With Ramirez admitting that the MLS players on his roster have played an important role for his Copa América squad, Saborío could see significant time in Costa Rica’s final game when they face the Colombians on Saturday, June 11 at 9:00 PM at NGR Stadium in Houston, Texas.
