Costa Rica vs Canada Predictions

• Canada won eight games in a row prior to a 1-0 defeat to the USA in final group game.
• Costa Rica went into the Gold Cup on the back of an 11-game winless run.
• Canada had 14 shots on goal in their loss to the USA.

Canada can end Los Ticos’ Gold Cup bid

Costa Rica came through the CONCACAF Gold Cup group stages with a perfect record and now face Canada in the quarter-finals in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Canucks breezed through the first round with two 4-1 wins over Martinique and Haiti before a 1-0 defeat to hosts the USA in their final group game when qualification had already been assured.

Los Ticos may have picked up three wins in Group C but it wasn’t necessarily a walk in the park for the Central Americans.  After opening their account with a 3-1 win over minnows Guadeloupe, they were given a few scares in a 2-1 win over Suriname after falling behind and were then lucky to overcome Jamaica 1-0.  Costa Rica managed just three shots and scored with their only attempt on target against the Reggae Boys, and were left clinging on after keeper Leonel Moriera was sent off with 20 minutes remaining.

In contrast, Canada were perhaps unfortunate to go down 1-0 to the USA and after conceding an early goal they went on to dominate but were unable to force an equaliser. Canada created 14 chances but managed just three of those on target, while Shaquell Moore’s first minute opener proved to be the only shot on target the USA had.

Historically games between these two sides have been close affairs and four of the last five meetings have been draws.  We’re expecting another tight game now the Gold Cup has entered the knockout stages but we feel Canada can edge this one.  Costa Rica were winless in 11 prior to the Gold Cup, while Canada’s defeat to the USA ended an eight-match winning run.  John Herdman’s men managed five clean sheets during that winning streak and we feel 2-0 has a chance in the correct score market.