USMNT: Klinsmann’s Tactics Pay off at Home vs Costa Rica

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: March 23, 2013

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Latitude and weather doomed the U.S. Men's National Team in Honduras.

On Friday night, the North Americans returned the favor in the World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica.

Seven U.S. starters play league ball above the 40th parallel. Graham Zusi (39.09° N) is close.

Denver, Colorado is at 39.7392° North. And it sometimes snows there in March.

For home-field advantage against a Central American team, the weather couldn't be better—30 degrees with snow on the field and in the air.

Costa Rica's strategy was to park the snowplow in front of goal, deploying in a 5-4-1 formation. The U.S. set up in Klinsmann's preferred 4-2-3-1.

Klinsmann played Geoff Cameron out wide where he plays in the EPL. Clarence Goodson, a five-year veteran of the Scandinavian leagues, took the spot opposite Omar Gonzalez in central defense.

Klinsmann's team took advantage of the lighter snowfall in the first half. They were able to run their offense and held 62 percent of possession.

It must have been tempting to simply play more direct from the very beginning, but the Americans stayed disciplined through halftime.

Once again the U.S. grabbed an early lead, and it started with a slick pass from Clint Dempsey to Jozy Altidore facing the goal. Jozy got his shot away and the rebound fell at the feet of Dempsey, who continued his run after picking out his target forward.

The U.S. back four looked like the ski patrol. Goodson particularly looked right at home on the glacier as he continuously cut out passes with well-timed jumps into the passing lanes.

Goodson and Gonzalez smothered the Costa Ricans' main scoring threat Alvaro Saborío, who responded with more cheap shots than a target .22.

In first-half stoppage time, Gonzalez atoned for his sins in Honduras. The Costa Ricans penetrated the Americans' 18 and were lining up a shot when an avalanche ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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