The United States booked an important victory in the World Cup qualifier on the night from Wednesday to Thursday. Partly due to a wonderful goal by Sergiño Dest, the team of national coach Gregg Berhalter won 2-1 against Costa Rica. Mexico also did what it had to do. The leader of the qualifying campaign won 0-2 against El Salvador.
United States – Costa Rica 2-1
Costa Rica got off to a dream start at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. In the first minute it was already hit. A cross from Ronald Matarrita’s left wing was hit by Keysher Fuller at the far post in the far corner. Team USA had to work and got the desired equalizer just before half-time thanks to Dest. The right back of Barcelona sought the attack on the right at high speed. He received the ball, cut in and shot with the left in the top left corner well out of Keylor Navas’ reach.
SERGINO DEST WHAT A GOAL ?? The USMNT equalize! pic.twitter.com/eVNh8R8Lym
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 13, 2021
After the break, the home team went on the hunt for the 2-1. The United States got what it hoped for after 66 minutes of play. Dest sent Timothy Weah into the penalty area with a watched cross ball. The Lille OSC attacker outwitted Leonel Moreira, who came on at halftime for Navas, with a hard shot into the short corner. Weah’s goal turned out to be enough for the three points. Dest was named Man of the Match for his play, second goal for the national team, and his assist to Weah. The squatter against Mexico is scheduled for November 12.
El Salvador – Mexico 0-2
On the Mexico side, Edson Álvarez was the notable absentee. The midfielder of Ajax is usually a basic player in the national team, but was missing from the match selection against El Salvador for an unknown reason. Without his presence, Mexico had little to fear from El Salvador, which does not seem to have a claim to World Cup qualification with five points from six games. After half an hour of play, the Mexicans took the lead via Héctor Moreno. The ex-defender of AZ and PSV, among others, headed home from a corner kick by Jesús Corona. Despite the fact that the home team had to continue with ten men just after the break after a red card from Mario Jacobo, Mexico did not manage to expand the score further. It wasn’t until deep in injury time that the visitors, who saw Nestor Araujo drop out with a second yellow card twenty minutes before the end, made it 2-0. Substitute Raúl Jiménez hit from eleven meters.