U.S. returns to World Cup despite 2-0 loss at Costa Rica

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica –

Christian Pulisic walked throughout the sector with a towel draped round his head, offended after one other U.S. defeat.

“We’re opponents, man. We hate to lose. Within the second I used to be annoyed,” he stated. “It took me somewhat bit for it to sink in, that the qualification hit.”

Almost 4 1/2 years after Pulisic buried his head in his palms to cover tears of failure, the U.S. rebounded to qualify for this yr’s World Cup. A 2-0 loss to Costa Rica on Wednesday left the People in third place after the ultimate night time of qualifying, the ultimate assured berth from North and Central America and the Caribbean.

For Pulisic, DeAndre Yedlin, Kellyn Acosta and Paul Arriola, smiles of aid broke out after an unrelenting burden was lifted.

“That is no matter I’ve at all times needed to be, and proper now feelings are a bit loopy,” Pulisic stated, his voice quavering.

On the 1,267th day after a 2-1 loss at Trinidad and Tobago ended the People’ streak of seven straight World Cup appearances, Yedlin addressed the workforce earlier than the kickoff.

“I simply thanked every one in every of them for giving me a second alternative to redeem myself, and the nation a second alternative to redeem itself,” stated the 28-year-old defender, the one American left from the 2014 match.

The U.S. remained winless in 12 qualifiers at Costa Rica, with 10 defeats and two attracts.

Juan Pablo Vargas acquired behind Walker Zimmerman and headed Brandon Aguilera’s nook kick previous goalkeeper Zack Steffen within the 51st minute, and Anthony Contreras knocked in Jewison Bennette’s cross off a scramble within the 59th after Steffen palmed Aguilar’s free kick towards Contreras and blocked Contreras’ preliminary shot.

Coach Gregg Berhalter, who performed for the U.S. on the 2002 World Cup, congratulated the gamers within the locker room. Beginning lineups within the 14 qualifiers averaged an American-record low of 23 years, 302 days.

“Being the youngest workforce on the planet to qualify for the World Cup is not any simple process,” he stated. “It is a proud second for the workforce, proud second for U.S. Soccer, and we’re trying ahead to competing within the World Cup once more.”

A sellout crowd of about 35,000 in Nationwide Stadium got here to life with the targets, however the People’ 5-1 rout of Panama at dwelling final weekend gave them an enormous goal-difference margin over Costa Rica. That meant the U.S. merely needed to keep away from shedding by six targets or extra so as to declare an computerized berth.

Canada, which had clinched its first World Cup journey since 1986 with a win Sunday, completed first within the group with 28 factors after a 1-0 loss at Panama, forward of Mexico on purpose distinction. El Tri clinched its eighth straight World Cup berth with a 2-0 dwelling win over El Salvador, whereas the U.S. (25 factors) completed third with a plus-11 purpose distinction to plus-five for Costa Rica (additionally 25 factors).

Ticos coach Luis Fernando Suarez did not embrace six starters from Sunday’s win at El Salvador who carried yellow playing cards, not desirous to danger a suspension for a June playoff towards Oceania champion New Zealand.

As Berhalter spoke to his workforce, 24-year-old defender Erik-Palmer Brown popped open the primary bottle of Duet Mosseux Brut, beginning a short bubbly and beer celebration earlier than some gamers caught a constitution flight to London. Berhalter headed with workers for a red-eye flight to New York and a connection for Qatar forward of Friday’s draw.

U.S. bench gamers walked onto the sector on the closing whistle and exchanged handshakes and hugs with their teammates, whereas dwelling followers cheered the Ticos. Then American gamers placed on ski goggles and let free.

“The get together goes. I feel now we have run out of beer,” stated Zimmerman, a 28-year-old defender who did not play within the first three qualifiers, then began 9 of the final 11. “Coming into the locker room, everybody simply determined, you already know what, we realized our purpose, which was to qualify, and we did that, so everybody form of forgot about tonight. We put ourselves in that place, the place we may afford to do this.”

The U.S. finds out at Friday’s draw which three nations it can face within the group stage, which begins Nov. 21 at a match pushed again 5 months to keep away from summer season desert warmth. A rising and more and more hypercritical fan base is hoping to see Pulisic & Co. attain the quarterfinals for the primary time since 2002.

“Now now we have to check ourselves towards one of the best gamers on the planet, one of the best groups on the planet,” stated midfielder Tyler Adams, who got here off at halftime with a bruise above his left knee from a deal with. “This was solely the primary stage in our growth.”

Pulisic, the primary American to play in and win a Champions League closing, had been consumed with making an attempt to raise the U.S. again to a World Cup. The 23-year-od led the workforce with 5 of its 21 targets regardless of making simply seven begins resulting from COVID-19, a sprained ankle and shaky type when he first got here again from the damage.

“Trying on the large image, we’re clearly so proud to symbolize our nation at a World Cup, so we’re thrilled for that. In a few days, I do not assume we’ll be fascinated about this recreation,” he stated. “I feel we are able to do lots of injury, man. I feel we’re a assured bunch of men, and, yeah, I feel the nation will get behind us.”