Costa Rica is getting a little chippy for some reason. Cristian Montero gets a yellow for a foul on Donovan. Resulting free kick pops up for Casey and Bocanegra. It bounces off Casey's shoulder as Navas comes out to punch. And this just in, Trinidad and Tobago goes up 1-0 over Mexico. Whoa.
More brilliance from Altidore as his header springs Donovan past Marin and in on Navas, but Donovan sends it over goal. He had Casey wide open in the middle of the box...but odds are good that Casey would have done the same thing. US could easily be up 3-0 right now.
Costa Rica is dropping the two wingers back for a more defensive formation. From the looks of things, if the US can score one, they'll score a bunch tonight. Costa Rica needs to prevent that.
Altidore earns another free kick on the edge of the area as he's held up slightly. Donovan has roughly the same view that he had on the third US goal in Honduras. Donovan pushes it out for Bradley who drills it into a defender and out for a US corner. Donovan to take it and he sends it near post and headed away.
Altidore with more astounding play in the 44th. He slides in and wins the tackle, then sends it through for Casey and Donovan coming on to goal. Donovan strikes it low and Navas with the save. Another chance as Donovan finds Altidore open in the 45th. Altidore is denied by Navas again. Its only a matter of time here if you ask me as Costa Rica keeps dropping back.
In stoppage time now and Dennis Marshall appears hurt for Costa Rica. He was going over Casey for a header and ended up hitting the ground hard. But he's back out almost immediately. US earns a corner in the third minute of stoppage time. Onyewu gets it, but it was a bit low and he got under it.
First half ends and its Bryan Ruiz 2, USA 0. Some tough goals to give up for the US. Onyewu was working hard to keep Ruiz from going around him, but Bocanegra seems to play like he's unaware of Onyewu's limited speed once again and Ruiz gets right in on top of Howard. The second was just a fantastic strike, but there was no one pushing up on Ruiz. Over all, the US has had the far better chances and easily could have scored four or five times, were it not for some brilliance by Keylor Navas. If you weren't too familiar with the game, you'd like that Navas was the best keeper in CONCACAF and not Howard based on tonight. For the US, they seem to have been skipping the central midfield pairing of Bradley and Feilhaber in the attack and going out wide (which isn't necessarily bad) or sending it over the top for Altidore. I'm hoping to see more of Benny on the ball to set up Holden, Donovan, Altidore and Casey in the second half. Jozy has been simply brilliant through 45 playing both a holding role and making terrific runs and taking on the defense. The chances are there and are likely to remain there. They just need to calm down a bit and take advantage of them.
Feilhaber is getting more possession in the early going, but isn't doing much with it. He's losing the ball early here, but the US is managing to regain the possession. I'm not sure Costa Rica has taken a touch yet.
More poor finishing in the 50th as Altidore sends Cherundolo to the touch line. Cherundolo pulls it back and finds Bradley who sends it well wide. More failed chances for the US.
Costa Rica seems to be sitting back on this 2-0 lead as both Bornstein and Cherundolo are way up top and there isn't a lot of pressure through the midfield as a whole. Donovan sends a looping cross in for Altidore, but a fully stretched Navas gets on it before Jozy. I'm starting to think that two might not be enough for Costa Rica.
In the 57th now and Bocanegra fouls in the center circle giving the Costa Ricans their first real possession of the half.
Are we watching the same team? The US I am watching is controlling possession and creating all the chances. What are you watching?
Cherundolo sends in another cross in the 60th and Navas extends himself to get to that one and punch it away. Keylor Navas is channeling his inner Lev Yashin tonight.
