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USA-Costa Rica: Pre-Game Primer

SDSoccer

Administrator
Staff member
Here's the full package of information to get you prepped for USA-Costa Rica tonight. Meantime, a few highlights:

  • Clint Dempsey has six goals in World Cup Qualifying in this cycle and 11 overall. He is the only player to appear in all seven matches of this cycle. Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named Dempsey as the USA’s captain for the upcoming qualifying matches against Costa Rica and Mexico.
  • Brad Guzan has three shutouts in five matches played in qualifying in his career, posting a 3-1-1 record. Guzan started in the 2-0 win against Guatemala on Nov. 19, 2008, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
  • With an appearance this year, midfielder DaMarcus Beasley would join a small group of MNT players who have played in at least one National Team match for 13 consecutive years. Frankie Hejduk leads the group with 14 straight years, and six players have appeared in 13 straight years: Marcelo Balboa, Landon Donovan, Cobi Jones, Kasey Keller, Claudio Reyna and Earnie Stewart. Beasley has earned 97 caps for the MNT from 2001-12.
  • Four USA players on the roster are currently carrying yellow cards into World Cup Qualifying: Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Maurice Edu and Graham Zusi. Their next caution will result in a one-match suspension.
  • In World Cup Qualifying against Costa Rica, the USA is in the midst of a seven-game home unbeaten streak (5-0-2) and is 5-1-2 overall in home qualifying matches against Costa Rica.The USA’s only home blemish was a 1-0 loss on May 31, 1985, in Torrance, Calif.

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