USA vs Costa Rica

The United States aims to advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals, facing a challenging match against Costa Rica in Arizona on Sunday night.

Mauricio Pochettino, under significant scrutiny after four consecutive losses to Panama, Canada, Turkiye, and Switzerland, has guided the U.S. team to the quarterfinals with convincing wins. They dominated Trinidad & Tobago 5-0, edged out Saudi Arabia 1-0, and secured a 2-1 victory over Haiti, with goals from Malik Tillman and Patrick Agyemang, boosting confidence for bettors.

Costa Rica earned their quarterfinal spot with flair, securing thrilling 4-3 and 2-1 wins against Suriname and the Dominican Republic, respectively. They capped their group stage with a 0-0 draw against defending champions Mexico, finishing second in Group A due to a lower goal difference.

Bookmakers’ Perspective: U.S. Favored
The U.S. enters as strong favorites, with BoyleSports listing them at 1/2 to win within 90 minutes. Costa Rica, at 5/1, could spring an upset, while a draw leading to extra time or penalties is priced at 14/5.

Head-to-Head: U.S. Dominance
The U.S. has won five of their last six encounters with Costa Rica, including a 3-0 friendly victory earlier this year, giving Pochettino’s squad a historical edge.

Key Players to Watch
Malik Tillman, a standout for PSV, has been a revelation, scoring twice against Trinidad & Tobago and once against Haiti. He’s a solid 23/10 with Unibet to score again. For Costa Rica, Spartak Moscow’s Manfred Ugalde, who netted 18 goals in Russia and three penalties in this tournament, is 3/1 with Bet365 to find the net.

The U.S. takes on Costa Rica at U.S. Bank Stadium in the final Gold Cup quarterfinal. Despite their perfect group stage record, the U.S. faces their toughest challenge yet. Costa Rica’s experienced squad, which held Mexico scoreless, is resilient and difficult to penetrate. While the U.S. has historically dominated this matchup, Costa Rica’s 2-0 win in a 2022 World Cup qualifier, with goals from Juan Pablo Vargas and Anthony Contreras, serves as a reminder of their potential to upset.