Posted on January 27, 2012
By Michael Lewis
TropiGol.com Editor
VANCOUVER — Costa Rica has never beaten in the United States in women’s soccer in seven meetings.
No, that doesn’t actually tell the entire story.
The Ticas haven’t been able to score against the Americans in those games, dating back to 2000. That’s how dominating they have been.
The U.S. not only has a perfect 7-0-0, but they have outscored the Central Americans, 34-0. Now that’s not as imposing as as the 31-0 margin the Americans have enjoyed in the CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualfying tournament.
Given the history between the two teams, Costa Rica finds itself in an uphill battle. The Ticas’ best results were 3-0 losses and have not gotten any closer.
Actually, the Americans have become the Central Americans’ nemesis, having denied their foes from moving on in qualifying for Women’s World Cups and Olympic qualifying tournaments. Pretty incredible, huh?
So, in chronological order, here is how the U.S. has fared against the Costa Ricans in the past dozen years:
1. U.S. 8, Costa Rica 0 (June 25, 2000)
As a tune-up for the Syndey Olympics later that year, Nicky Serlenga recorded a hat-trick to boost the Americans in this friendly in Louisville, Ken. Christie Welsh came off the bench to add a brace and Shannon MacMillian, Sara Whalen and Susan Bush also had single tallies. Jennifer Branam recorded the clean sheet.
2. U.S. 6, Costa Rica 0 (Nov. 6, 2002)
Cindy Parlow registered a hat-trick as the Americans won this qualifier to book a spot in the 2003 WWC in Seattle, Wash. MacMillan also scored and Angela Hucles came off the bench to add a goal. The Costa Ricans had an own goal. Brianna Scurry was in goal.
3. U.S. 5, Costa Rica 0 (Sept. 1, 2003)
As a tune-up for the WWC that the U.S. was hosting later that month, the U.S. coasted to another win. With Siri Mullinix backstopping the victory, Shannon Boxx, Aly Wagner, Abby Wambach and Parlow tallied. Mia Hamm added another goal off the bench in the match at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
4. U.S. 4, Costa Rica 0 (March 3, 2004)
The Americans qualified for the 2004 Athens Summer Games in the Ticas’ backyard on a sunny and windy day at Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica. Wagner got things started, converting a Kristine Lilly feed in the fifth minute. Wambach doubled the lead in the 26th minute and Lilly all but sealed things only three minutes later. Boxx finished the rout in the 51st minute. Scurry manned the nets in this one.The U.S. men would love to win a game in that Central American country, let alone enjoy a four-goal margin. The visitors also outshot the hosts, 20-1.
“This is the third time we’ve seen Costa Rica in just over a year and I think they’ve made remarkable improvement,” U.S. coach April Heinrichs said. “They have a fighting spirit, organization and commitment that I didn’t see six months ago. I was extremely impressed with them and I was not surprised by their result with Canada and by their effort in the first half against us. I think they are a really nice team and over the course of the tournament they were one of the best teams in possession play. We can learn from the Costa Rican team in playing quick one and two touches and combination play through the midfield.”
5. U.S. 3, Costa Rica 0 (April 9, 2008)
Once again the Americans denied Costa Rica a chance to play in the Olympics, but don’t let the score fool you. A frustrated U.S. side could not find the back of the net for the opening 56 minutes until Natasha Kai put in the first of two goals in the 57th minute. She created Heather O’Reilly’s score in the 72nd minute before connecting off an Angela Hucles feed in the 89th minute in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Hope Solo manned the nets for this one.
6. U.S. 4, Costa Rica 0 (Nov. 1, 2010)
In the first game of the 2011 WWC qualifying tournament, the U.S rolled to victory. Wambach converted a penalty kick in the 32nd minute. The U.S. broke open the game in the second half as Lauren Cheney (68th minute), Yael Averbuch (73rd minute) and Alex Morgan (81st minute) found the back of the net. Nicole Barnhart was in goal.
7. U.S. 3, Costa Rica 0 (Nov. 8, 2010)
This is probably the best known result between between the two teams. Only several days prior, both teams lost in the semifinals as they faced off to see who would play Italy in a special playoff. The U.S. was stunned by Mexico, 2-1, losing to El Tri for the very first time. The Ticas fell to Canada, 4-0. With Barnhart registering another shutout, Cheney began the scoring off the first of two Lori Lindsey assists in the 17th minute. Lindsey then set up the first two Wambach goals in the 33rd minute and Cheney created the striker’s second in the 50th minute. The Americans went on to defeat Italy in a home-and-playoff to become the last time to qualify for the tournament in Germany. They wound up losing to Japan in penalty kicks in the final.
Photo: Heather O’Reilly has scofed against Costa Rica. Andy Mead/YCJ
Categories: Central America, Costa Rica, North America, Olympic Qualifying, U.S.A., Women
Tags: Abby Wambach, April Heinrichs, Cinday Parlow, CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying tournament, Heather O'Reilly, Mia Hamm, Natasha Kai, Shannon Boxx, Shannon MacMillan, Siri Mullinix, Yael Averbuch
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