On January 22, 2025, Miguel Herrera made his much-anticipated debut as the head coach of the Costa Rican national soccer team. Unfortunately for him, it couldn’t have gone worse. The Costa Rican team was comprehensively outplayed by the United States, succumbing to a 3-0 defeat at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Herrera, known as "El Piojo," took over the national team coaching duties earlier this month after the departure of Argentine Gustavo Alfaro. His debut against the United States was particularly challenging, as it featured primarily local MLS talent due to the absence of European players not being on FIFA's international match calendar.
The match began with Costa Rica pressing early, displaying moments of skill and determination. For the first ten minutes, it looked like the Ticos might carry the day. Yet, as the United States adjusted, the narrative began to shift. Mauricio Pochettino, the U.S. national team coach, began exploiting the weaknesses in Costa Rican defense, leading to effective goal-scoring opportunities.
Brian White opened the scoring for the U.S. at the 21-minute mark after taking advantage of Costa Rica's defensive lapse. With strong teamwork behind him, White shattered the hopes of Herrera's squad with a deft finish. This goal set the stage for the rest of the match, where Costa Rica struggled to recover.
While United States showed more possession throughout, Costa Rica had its moments, particularly one standout save by U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who thwarted several near-goals by Alejandro Bran and Allan Cruz, keeping the scoreline intact. Costa Rica's threats continued but lacked the finishing touch necessary to capitalize on their opportunities.
Into the second half, Costa Rica switched tactics but continued to fall short. At 77 minutes, Caden Clark netted the second goal for the Americans, landing another blow to the fired-up but faltering Costa Rican side. His left-footed strike from the center of the box was particularly disheartening, emphasizing the gap between the two teams.
The final nail came at the 90-minute mark, as Patrick Agyemang capped the scoring with a powerful shot, leaving Herrera’s boys to ponder what went wrong as the U.S. celebrated their commanding victory. Costa Rica’s loss now poses many questions for the new coach, who expressed desires of revitalizing the team as they aim for qualifications to greater tournaments, including the upcoming Gold Cup.
"We didn't react well to the opponent’s superior play, particularly during pivotal moments of the game," stated Herrera post-match, recognizing the need for improvement as they prepare for future encounters.
With the next challenge on the horizon when they face Belize for qualification to the Gold Cup, Costa Rica needs to regroup quickly. The matches are scheduled for March 17 and March 24, marking another opportunity for Herrera to steer the team back on course.
This friendly match served as both an eye-opener and as motivation to bolster Costa Rica's efforts leading up to the more significant international competitions. The stark reality of their performance against the U.S. not only displayed the current capabilities but highlighted the steep learning curve Herrera will face.
On the flip side, the U.S. team, under Pochettino's guidance, continues to find their rhythm. After winning against Venezuela earlier, this match with Costa Rica was another showing of their depth and readiness as they gear up for more competitive fixtures later this year.
Looking back at the match, it’s evident both teams have lessons to take from this encounter. United States, buoyed by their young talent, showcased their strength, as Herrera realizes he has work to do to transform Costa Rica's fortunes before entering the highly competitive arenas of international football.