USMNT vs. Costa Rica score: Sergino Dest stars in attack as Americans overcome early deficit in 2-1 win
The red, white and blue came through when it mattered and picked up three points at home
The youngest ever team fielded by United States men's national team in Concacaf World Cup qualifying was handed quite the trying task on Wednesday night, and they passed. Despite conceding in the first minute to Costa Rica, the Americans rallied with a goal in each half to secure a 2-1 win in Columbus, Ohio, earning three vital points.
With so many key players missing -- Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna to name a few -- Gregg Berhalter's side responded to Sunday's loss against Panama with arguably their most encouraging performance under the former Columbus Crew boss. While they perhaps didn't create as many chances as they would have liked, there was a spark in this team that was absent last weekend. Despite making numerous changes to the starting lineup, the midfield of Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah helped bring much-needed stability to a game that was all USA in the second half, while defender Sergino Dest recorded an amazing goal and was involved in the second goal, which was ruled as own goal.
Costa Rica's star goalkeeper Keylor Navas went off at the break with what's presumed to be an injury, and the hosts benefited on their second goal to earn their sixth point of the October window.
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Here are three takeaways:
1. Dest was the difference going forward
The Barcelona defender continues to prove that he's below average in defense and above it going forward. He was by far the most threatening player in attack, getting this absolutely incredible goal in the first half to draw level:
SERGINO DEST. QUE GOLAZO. 💥
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 13, 2021
(🎥 @TUDNUSA)pic.twitter.com/Ozjxu9nKoP
While showing off his flair, he got better as the game went on, despite being subbed off in the second half. He didn't always stick in position, drifted into the middle and combined quite well with Weston McKennie. Not afraid to take his shot, he was more of a distributor in the second half, and it worked.
After a poor start to the game that saw him basically in a bad position on the goal, he, like his team, bounced back and answered the call when their backs were against the wall.
2. Navas sub fortunate for U.S.
Just before the second half started, it really felt like anybody's game, especially because of Navas' presence. But when he came off, it felt over. And when the USA's best chance came, it was. Dest played Tim Weah through in the box, and the Lille man's rifled shot hit off the post, off the goalkeeper and in. The own goal was given to goalkeeper Leonel Moreira, and I just can't help to think that Navas would have saved this.
TIM WEAH 💥
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 14, 2021
GREAT TEAM PLAY FROM @USMNT 🇺🇸
(🎥 @ESPNFC)pic.twitter.com/X5YCqpL2Hv
3. October window saved
Six points from this window is good enough. The U.S. probably planned on at least seven, but to bounce back like they did from the loss to Panama was quite encouraging. The defenders, for the most part, looked good. The midfield was dynamic and as creative as it has been, and if there was any issue it was that young star striker Ricardo Pepi didn't get the chances he would have wanted in this last match. But with a young team, consistency should come with time.
The win provisionally puts the team back into first place in qualifying and gives them a bit more breathing room ahead of November, which is all you can ask for from a team missing so many key guys.
Live updates
Lets go!!!! So proud of this group for the fight and response! @USMNT 🇺🇸 https://t.co/3LEMwPvGbS
— Paul Arriola (@PaulArriola) October 14, 2021
Crucial win to wrap up this window. The USA returns to action in November, facing Mexico in Cincinnati, Ohio on Nov. 12 before traveling to take on Jamaica in Kingston on Nov. 16.#OnlyForward #SoloPalante
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
😂 @yunusmusah8
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
😂 @WMckennie https://t.co/1zr0PfsALm
Amazing response to close out the window! +3 and we keep pressing forward 🙌🏽🇺🇸 #USMNT
— Sean Johnson (@SeanJohnGK) October 14, 2021
Big home win all in 59 seconds.#USAvCRC x @VW pic.twitter.com/ziM24FLzyE
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
Congrats boys! 💪💪 @USMNT
— Jordan Morris (@JmoSmooth13) October 14, 2021
🗣LET THE BOYS BALL 🇺🇸 https://t.co/0ZvxmCnwTv
— Miles Robinson (@_milesrobinson_) October 14, 2021
Congratulations @sergino_dest on being selected as today’s Insiders Man of the Match 👏 pic.twitter.com/aBjhG2Kq9K
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
Live from @LowerFieldCbus following today's 2-1 win vs. Costa Rica. https://t.co/yE85GCxgPM
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
Long road and we continue. Proud of ya, Tim Weah. 👊 pic.twitter.com/be49baHzrN
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
Thank you for the love tonight, @LowerFieldCbus!#BestFansInTheWorld ❤️ pic.twitter.com/U1dtm3M7ZF
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
Fought for it and earned it. 3 points at home to close out this #WCQ window.#OnlyForward #SoloPalante | @VW pic.twitter.com/QxUu5tXZIZ
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
U.S. Soccer Insiders, voting for tonight's Man of the Match is now open!
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
🇺🇸 @sergino_dest
🇺🇸 @tyler_adams14
🇺🇸 @yunusmusah8
Download the official U.S. Soccer App to vote!
📲: https://t.co/b0oF3A2fBJ pic.twitter.com/ZyCHkX5m8j
86' - #USMNT subs:
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
➡️ Zimmerman
➡️ Zardes
⬅️ Aaronson
⬅️ Pepi#USAvCRC x @VW | 2-1 pic.twitter.com/7WEKh6pWq7
86' - #USMNT subs:
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
➡️ Zimmerman
➡️ Zardes
⬅️ Aaronson
⬅️ Pepi out#USAvCRC | 2-1 pic.twitter.com/O63OJ1UGsn
Another sub, another WCQ debut.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
➡️ Gianluca Busio
⬅️ Yunus Musah
2-1 | #USAvCRC x @VW pic.twitter.com/JOAFB1M15G
Stellar teamwork. Fearless finish.
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
We on top in Columbus! #USAvCRC x @VW pic.twitter.com/2OxujF0L4D
Two #USMNT Subs:
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
➡️ Yedlin
➡️ Hoppe (#WCQ debut!)
⬅️ Dest
⬅️ Weah#USAvCRC | 2-1 pic.twitter.com/ngO9e16YoZ
Update: The goal has been called an own goal. But, it's 2-1 and our guys made it happen so, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ https://t.co/zwDXswo1Hf
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
TIM WEAH GETS THE BOUNCE TO PUT THE USMNT UP 2-1 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9rzF6zztok
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 14, 2021
Dest plays Weah through, and he just rifles it and it finds its way in after hitting the post and then the goalkeeper!
66' GOAL USA!!! Weah!!!!! 2-1!!!
66' GOAL! TIM WEAH GIVES US THE LEAD!
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
2-1 | #USAvCRC x @VW pic.twitter.com/kI3ku653oR
It's Hoppe that is coming on for the USMNT.
#OnlyForward #SoloPalante
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
65'| #USAvCRC | 1-1 pic.twitter.com/BFxKtW4Xt6
Half an hour to go, and not a lot of clear chances in this second half. The subs have to come soon, and we'll see what Berhalter decides to do. I'd go Busio to bring some more creativity into the side.
Yikes! Ruiz goes alone in on goal off a poor pass from Miles Robinson, but he recovers to stop the 36-year-old. Fortunate there for the U.S.
Sergino Dest is down with an injury..unclear if he will continue but looked like his ankle.
46' - Second half underway!
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 14, 2021
Costa Rica GK substitution to start the half:
⬅️ Navas
➡️ Moreira
Well, well, well. Great news for the USMNT as superstar goalkeeper Keylor Navas is coming out ... unclear why, but what a blow for Los Ticos.