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The U.S. Men’s National Team came into tonight’s World Cup qualifier with confidence but a Marco Ureña brace sent the Americans back to earth, as Costa Rica handed the US a shock 2-0 defeat Friday night in New York.
Go time in Harrison . Meet your #USMNT starting XI for #USAvCRC, presented by @VolpiFoods1902!
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) September 1, 2017
Lineup notes » https://t.co/Ng3Qs3Sw01 pic.twitter.com/LVkPMXVCyh
Costa Rica got away with one early on when Kendall Waston pulled down Jozy Altidore in the box but the referee let it slide.
The Ticos frustrated the Americans to no end, swarming the US in numbers and preventing Christian Pulisic and company from getting anything going. And when Ureña took advantage of some sloppy defending by Tim Ream to pull a shot inside the box past a sleeping Howard, the USA were in trouble.
Try as they might, the second half was no different for the Americans. Late on in the 82nd minute, it was Geoff Cameron’s turn to turn the ball over in a fatal spot, and Ureña tucked a finish away to bury the match.