Costa Rica vs El Salvador Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Joel Amorim Jul 10, 2015 @ 02:07 am

Next Sunday, 12th of July 2015, an inconsistent Costa Rica will measure forces with El Salvador at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston for match number 10 of the 13th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Costa Rica started their clash with Jamaica at a very slow pace and although they did create some goal chances, they allowed their opponents to, in a way, dictate the tempo of the match. On the 12th minute, Jamaica opened the score thanks a goal from Garath McCleary after a defensive mistake from Costa Rica’s back line. Los Ticos, nevertheless, did not lower their arms and grabbed the equalizer on the 32nd minute thanks to a header from their centre back Roy Miller after a somewhat unconventional cross from David Ramirez. Costa Rica were stronger throughout the match and just four minutes later David Ramirez netted in the second of the day for Los Ticos after a splendid long pass from the usual suspect, Celso Borges. In fact, it was an own goal, since it was Wes Morgan who, on a desperate attempt to clear the ball from the danger zone, placed it at the bottom of the net.

Paulo Wanchope’s men were, however, caught napping right after the break and allowed Jamaica to bounce back and to snatch the equalizer. A wrong pass from Bryan Ruiz allowed Jobi McAnuff’s triumphal run and the Leyton Orient midfielder showed no mercy to Costa Rica’s goalie, Esteban Alvarado.

Los Ticos need to improve if they want to take a strong stand at the tournament and their upcoming match against El Salvador will, due to that, be of the utmost importance. Costa Rica won the last two times both sides went head-to-head, but in a major competition such as the Gold Cup, things might turn out to be fairly more complicated for Paulo Wanchope’s boys.

As for El Salvador, La Selecta started their campaign at the Gold Cup with a goalless draw against Canada on what was, in fact, a very even match.

El Salvador have only won one of the last six matches they took part in and against Costa Rica they will need to perform much better than they did for their opening match, that is if they want to take something positive from that particular fixture.

Nelson Bonilla, one of the team’s most important players, was substituted early in the match against Canada and might miss the clash against Los Ticos next weekend.

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