USA Secures 3-0 Victory Over Costa Rica in Miguel Herrera's First Match
Miguel Herrera faced a challenging debut as Costa Rica head coach with a friendly defeat against the USA in New Jersey.
The international football friendly between the United States and Costa Rica concluded with a 3-0 victory for the American team, marking Miguel Herrera's debut as Costa Rica's head coach.
The match took place at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on October 14, 2023.
Miguel Herrera, previously known for his managerial role in various top-tier Mexican clubs and the Mexican national team, opted for his preferred 5-3-2 formation.
He introduced several newcomers in the squad, including defenders Santiago van der Putten and Ryan Bolaños, midfielder Creichel Pérez, and winger Josimar Méndez.
Fernán Faerrón led Costa Rica as captain for the first time, playing his fourth match for the national team.
The USA opened the scoring in the 20th minute of the match.
A precise pass from Diego Luna found Brian White, who managed to score past Costa Rican goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado.
Costa Rica's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, with debutant Ryan Bolaños unable to prevent White's goal.
The United States had another chance shortly after, as Indiana Vassilev's shot was expertly saved by Alvarado.
Costa Rica's first significant attempt came in the 36th minute when Alejandro Bran's long-range shot was deflected by the USA's goalkeeper, Zack Steffen.
Despite multiple changes during the halftime break, Herrera's team struggled to find their rhythm.
The second half saw the USA solidify their lead.
A notable moment was substitute Caden Clark's goal following a mistake by Bran.
In the closing stages of the match, Patrick Agyemang scored the USA's third goal, securing the home team's victory.
Costa Rica fielded an experimental lineup consisting mainly of domestic-based players, as they prepare for an upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup Preliminary match against Belize on March 21, 2024. This friendly served as an opportunity for Herrera to assess his squad's capabilities and explore tactical variations ahead of competitive fixtures.
The match took place at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on October 14, 2023.
Miguel Herrera, previously known for his managerial role in various top-tier Mexican clubs and the Mexican national team, opted for his preferred 5-3-2 formation.
He introduced several newcomers in the squad, including defenders Santiago van der Putten and Ryan Bolaños, midfielder Creichel Pérez, and winger Josimar Méndez.
Fernán Faerrón led Costa Rica as captain for the first time, playing his fourth match for the national team.
The USA opened the scoring in the 20th minute of the match.
A precise pass from Diego Luna found Brian White, who managed to score past Costa Rican goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado.
Costa Rica's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, with debutant Ryan Bolaños unable to prevent White's goal.
The United States had another chance shortly after, as Indiana Vassilev's shot was expertly saved by Alvarado.
Costa Rica's first significant attempt came in the 36th minute when Alejandro Bran's long-range shot was deflected by the USA's goalkeeper, Zack Steffen.
Despite multiple changes during the halftime break, Herrera's team struggled to find their rhythm.
The second half saw the USA solidify their lead.
A notable moment was substitute Caden Clark's goal following a mistake by Bran.
In the closing stages of the match, Patrick Agyemang scored the USA's third goal, securing the home team's victory.
Costa Rica fielded an experimental lineup consisting mainly of domestic-based players, as they prepare for an upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup Preliminary match against Belize on March 21, 2024. This friendly served as an opportunity for Herrera to assess his squad's capabilities and explore tactical variations ahead of competitive fixtures.
