Gold Cup: Landon Donovan, USMNT aim to top Costa Rica in Group C

The United States only needs a draw in their final 2013 Gold Cup Group C match against Costa Rica to win the group. Costa Rica has done well in the tournament, and indeed since their loss to the U.S. in the Snowclasico, but needs to win to take the group as the U.S. has a four-goal advantage in goal differential.

LA Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan is the only player on the current U.S. Men's National Team Gold Cup roster to have ever scored on Costa Rica. Donovan has a U.S. record 15 goals in 30 Gold Cup matches but has failed to score on Costa Rica in the tournament. Donovan did score two goals against Costa Rica in a 2006 World Cup Qualifying win and one goal against the Ticos in a 2010 World Cup qualifying loss. However, Donovan has not been shutout against Costa Rica in the Gold Cup. Donovan assisted on two of the USA's three goals, including Bobby Convey's game-winner (and first international goal) in the 2003 Gold Cup Third Place Match.

The budding rivalry between the nations is tied all-time at 12-12-6 since 1975. The USA does have a big advantage over the Ticos in the Gold Cup with a record of 5-0-1. The draw came in the last Gold Cup meeting between the teams in 2005. Costa Rica is 3-1-1 against the United States since that tournament.

As you might have heard, Donovan was left off the MLS All-Star 18-man game-day roster for the first time in his career. After having his 12-year run snapped, perhaps he'll break through with his first Gold Cup goal against Costa Rica on Tuesday night.

Match Time: 8 p.m. Eastern

Venue: Rentschler Field, Hartford, CT

TV: Fox Soccer (English), UniMas (Spanish)