El Salvador vs Costa Rica Predictions

• Costa Rica have kept four successive clean sheets in World Cup Qualifying.
• Costa Rica’s 12 group games have contained a total of just 16 goals.
• El Salvador, meanwhile, have the second-worst attack in the group after scoring just seven goals in 12 outings.
• Costa Rica have won four of their last five matches.

Costa Rica chasing qualification, but tight affair awaits

Eight years on from their memorable run to the World Cup quarter-finals, Costa Rica are chasing a third consecutive appearance at FIFA’s showpiece competition, and remain in contention for automatic qualification ahead of the final two matchdays in North and Central America.

Sitting just two points behind Mexico and the United States with a game against the latter to come, qualification is in Costa Rica’s hands. Having the second-best defensive record in the third round has helped their cause, conceding just seven goals in 12 games and keeping four successive clean sheets ahead of this clash. However, a return of just nine goals scored demonstrates their incapacity to blow teams away, and another tight affair may await them in El Salvador.

El Salvador, meanwhile, cannot qualify for Qatar, sitting sixth in the table and nine points shy of Costa Rica’s tally. The hosts’ struggles in front of goal have been even greater than Costa Rica’s, with their return of just seven goals scored being worse than all but rock-bottom Honduras. Meanwhile, all six of their home games in the group have contained under 2.5 goals.

Cagey contest likely with under 2.5 the smart play

Nine of Costa Rica’s 12 group games have contained fewer than three goals, as have the same proportion of El Salvador’s outings. With a tight affair appearing certain, the only question for punters is whether they secure additional value by backing the visitors.

Only Mexico and the U.S. have beaten Costa Rica in this campaign, and with El Salvador having nothing to play for and Costa Rica winning four of their last five games, backing the visitors for a huge win looks the value play. A third consecutive 1-0 win for Suarez’s men, meanwhile, looks a strong correct score prediction.