The National team of Costa Rica This Tuesday they qualified for the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League by beating Guatemala 3-0 on the fourth day of Group A, with a first goal from Valencia’s Warren Madrigal. With the result, Guatemala is out of the Concacaf Nations League by falling to third position, while Costa Rica finishes first with eight points and Suriname second with seven points, the same amount as Guatemala, but with a greater goal difference.
Costa Rica dominated the match from the beginning, constantly attacking and defining in the important moments, they could have even increased the score further. The 1-0 came early thanks to Costa Rican midfielder Warren Madrigal, who scored in the 8th minute after receiving an assist from Manfred Ugalde.
The Guatemalan team of Mexican coach Luis Fernando Tena tried to shake off the dominance of their rival, but found themselves trapped. The duo of Alejandro Bran and Brandon Aguilera was a headache for the Guatemalan defense, providing solidity in the midfield and printing speed to go on the attack.
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The second score came in the 38th minute on a counterattack, when Kenneth Vargas scored alone against goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen, while a great bicycle kick goal from veteran captain Francisco Calvo sealed the final 3-0 victory for Costa Rica in the 71st minute.
TECHNICAL SHEET
3 – Costa Rica: Patrick Sequeira, Haxzel Quirós, Jeyland Mitchell (Julio Cascante, m.78), Juan Pablo Vargas, Francisco Calvo, Brandon Aguilera (Rashir Parkins, m.88), Alejandro Bran (Sebastián Acuña, m.66), Kenneth Vargas, Manfred Ugalde, Alonso Martínez (Joel Campbell, m.66) and Warren Madrigal (Ariel Lassiter, m.78).
0 – Guatemala: Nicholas Hagen, José Ardón, Nicolás Samayoa, Kevin Ruiz, Aarón Herrera, Jonathan Franco (Marco Domínguez, m.76), Óscar Castellanos (Rodrigo Saravia, m.76), Elmer Cardoza (Pedro Altán, m.46), Óscar Santis (Olger Escobar, m.76), Nathaniel Méndez-Laing and Rubio Rubín (Darwin Low, m.81).
Goals: 1-0, Warren Madrigal (m. 8); 2-0, Kenneth Vargas (m. 38); 3-0, Francisco Calvo (m. 71)
Referee: The American Joe Dickerson cautioned José Ardón, Óscar Castellanos, Nathaniel Méndez-Laing, Alejandro Bran, Jeyland Mitchell and Haxzel Quirós.
Incidents: Match of the fourth day of Group A of the Concacaf Nations League played at the National Stadium of Costa Rica in front of 20,000 attendees.
