On this day in 1997, a qualifying tough loss in Costa Rica

⚽️ | 📅 #OnThisDay in 1️⃣9️⃣9️⃣7️⃣

🇺🇸 #USMNT 2-3 🇨🇷 Costa Rica

📍 San Jose

👔 Sampson

📋 World Cup Q

Always tough on the road in #concacaf and this loss was no different. 1-1-1 to start qualifying.

25’

Eric Wynalda equalizes with his 30th international goal.

67’

The US has to equalize again, this time through Roy Lassiter.

The striker picks off this lazy pass, beats his defender and rips a shot across his body into the net.

76’

Ronald Gomez’s winner.

Scorers: Hernán Medford 10′, Mauricio Solís 32′, Rónald Gómez 76′ — Eric Wynalda 25′, Roy Lassiter 67′

CRC: Hermidio Barrantes, Hárold Wallace, Luis Marín, Austín Berry, Rónald González, Rónald Gómez, Benjamín Mayorga, Hernán Medford (Jafet Soto 61′), Wílmer López, Mauricio Solís, Paulo Wanchope (Rónald Chavez 75′)

USA: Kasey Keller, Anthony Sanneh, Eddie Pope (Mike Burns 64′), Alexi Lalas, Jeff Agoos, Cobi Jones, Claudio Reyna (Peter Vermes 75′), John Harkes, Thomas Dooley, David Wagner (Roy Lassiter 46′), Eric Wynalda

Cards: Wílmer López [Y 82′] – Anthony Sanneh [Y 17′], Eric Wynalda [Y 26′], Cobi Jones [Y 85′]

US Soccer History Lineup

All match reports and stories posted to Twitter. Follow at @usmnt_historian

Passing Performance: Mendez vs U20 Nigeria

Alex Mendez vs Nigeria

In Matchday 2 of the U20 World Cup, Mendez showed off his passing ability as the #USYNT won 2-0 on May 27, 2019.

Let’s start with his assist to Sebastian Soto to open the scoring in the 18th minute.

Outside the assist, Mendez had two great passes to create chances.

The first was a dribble and through-pass to Tim Weah, who shot is saved. 

This ball is filthy.

This reverse pass to Konrad de la Fuente created a 1v1 dribbling opportunity for the winger.

The ball eventually went out for a corner kick.

Multiple times in the match, Mendez showed off his ability to ping long passes to switch the point of attack.

This first one happens in the defensive third in the 8th minute and finds Weah in space.

Here in the 7th minute, Mendez and Paxton Pomykal control a Aboubacar Keita header and Mendez eventually finds Soto running in behind the backline.

In the final third, Mendez can pick out that driven pass.

Here, he receives the simple pass before spraying the ball out to de la Fuente, which eventually turns into a corner kick.

I like this one a lot because he takes the pass from Chris Gloster in the middle of the field before turning and picking out the other fullback Sergino Dest. 

Throughout the match, Mendez wasn’t afraid to receive the pass, turn and sling the ball to the other side.

The partnership of Pomykal and Mendez (with Chris Durkin in the deepest part of midfield) looked formidable throughout the match.

Multiple times, the duo exchanged passes like these to make sure the US kept the ball. Mendez makes the interception in this clip.

Finally, Mendez isn’t known for his defense but he showed he could work hard to fill space.

He works back here and makes the sliding tackle.

Mendez was replaced by Brandon Servania in the 77th after all of this solid midfield play.

Alex Mendez (@aleexm21) vs Nigeria#PassingPerformance

In Matchday 2 of the U20 World Cup, Mendez showed off his passing ability as the #USYNT won 2-0 on May 27, 2019.

RTs appreciated.

Let’s start with his assist to Sebastian Soto to open the scoring in the 18th. (1/9) pic.twitter.com/r5gfwfTYVb

— USMNT Historian 🇺🇸 (@usmnt_historian) March 23, 2020

All match reports and stories posted to Twitter. Follow at @usmnt_historian