Some 45 minutes after the U.S. men's national team's 2-1 defeat to Mexico on Friday, goalkeeper Tim Howard was asked about the thankless trial that lay ahead Tuesday: a visit to Costa Rica, where the Americans have lost eight consecutive World Cup qualifiers.
"Yeah, we haven't won," he said on the chilly pathway to the team bus outside Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. "Probably the same way Mexico felt today."
Mexico flipped the Columbus script after four consecutive 2-0 defeats. The United States will now seek to end 27 years of San Jose misery.
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If there was a silver lining to the loss on the opening night of CONCACAF's final round of qualifying, it was that the six-nation competition for three tickets to Russia in 2018 leaves opportunity to amend flawed ways and discover fresh paths.
The first set of matches also showed unpredictability in the region. All three hosts lost, the first time that had occurred since Sept. 1, 2001, which was also the last time the Americans had lost a qualifier at home (3-2 to Honduras at RFK Stadium). As in that cycle, the Americans will attempt to rebound in Costa Rica.
"We have to be 100 percent, especially like we showed in the second half of the Mexico game," midfielder Jermaine Jones said "That's the only chance you have over there."
All things considered, the Americans would gladly take a draw in Costa Rica and then recalibrate for the March matches against Honduras at home and Panama away. A victory would do wonders but isn't mandatory. After all, the last stage of qualifiers, known as the "Hexagonal," is forgiving. Each country will play 10 games, with half the field getting automatic berths and another team entering a two-leg playoff against an Asian side next fall.
There was less margin of error in the semifinal round, albeit against weaker competition in a four-team group: four fewer games and two available slots.
While dropping points at home was worrisome, it came against the group favorite, an immensely talented Mexican squad with global ambitions. The loss does, though, create an unfamiliar situation: going on the road after an opening setback. The Americans lost their first match in the previous World Cup cycle as well, but that was on the road (Honduras). They recovered in their next outing, a month later against Costa Rica in a Colorado snowstorm.
There won't be any advantages — climatic or otherwise — in Costa Rica.
"We know it's going to be hostile, we know it's going to be a hard place to go to, but we know the ability we have in our guys," goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. "We showed at times, especially in the second half on Friday, that when we are at our best, we are a good team. We're going to need that come Tuesday night."
Guzan will start in place of Howard, who suffered a right adductor injury in the first half against Mexico. He did not travel with the team to Costa Rica on Sunday, instead returning to the Colorado Rapids for further evaluation ahead of the MLS Western Conference finals, which will begin Nov. 22 against the Seattle Sounders.
In relief against Mexico, Guzan was beaten by Rafael Marquez's 89th-minute header, though the fault on the goal was in the marking assignments. Three U.S. players were within range of Marquez, who connected off a corner kick to record Mexico's first victory in an away qualifier against the United States since 1972.
Costa Rica, a 2014 World Cup quarterfinalist, is riding high after winning at Trinidad and Tobago, 2-0. Panama is also off to a terrific start after a 1-0 stunner at Honduras.
Mexico, the United States and Costa Rica remain the group favorites, while Honduras's status as the fourth-best team has slipped.
Even if the Americans were to fall to 0-2-0 in the final round for the first time, Coach Jurgen Klinsmann does not appear in jeopardy of losing his job — despite criticism of his tactics against Mexico that failed from the start and prompted adjustments in the first half. The Americans were the better team after intermission until Marquez spoiled the night.
During a media roundtable a few hours before the Mexico match, U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati pointed out that the organization has not changed coaches in midstream in 27 years.
The unspoken rule: The USSF won't take action unless the World Cup berth were in grave danger. In the CONCACAF setup, it takes more than one or two early defeats to hit the breaking point.
"So no one has started the process and not finished it since 1989," Gulati said. "And I expect that to be the case here."
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