San José (AFP) – Joel Campbell scored twice as Costa Rica thrashed the United States 4-0 here Tuesday to pile the pressure on beleaguered coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
Campbell, who is on loan at Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon from Arsenal, scored twice in three minutes in the second half as the 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists ran riot against Klinsmann’s men.
The US had arrived in Costa Rica desperate for three points after suffering a shattering 2-1 loss against Mexico last Friday in their opening game of the CONCACAF region’s final round of qualifiers.
But a disastrous night for American hopes at Costa Rica’s Estadio Nacional unfolded shortly before half-time when ‘Los Ticos’ went ahead with a soft goal.
Slack defending from Omar Gonzalez allowed Christian Bolanos to get to the byline and cross for Johan Venegas, left unmarked by John Brooks, to head home past Brad Guzan.
Bolanos made it 2-0 in the 69th minute, prodding home from close range after an exquisite cross with the outside of the boot by Bryan Ruiz.
The second Costa Rica goal was the cue for an abject collapse in the US defence and once again Brooks was at fault.
The Hertha Berlin centre-half made a horrible hash of clearing a long ball forward and Campbell pounced to race clean through on goal, calmly tucking away past Guzan.
Three minutes later and Campbell grabbed his second with almost a carbon copy of his first. More static defending allowed Campbell to go clear and he duly finished to complete US misery.
