Gold Cup 2017: Costa Rica’s success largely due to MLS
Costa Rica got off on the right foot at the Gold Cup. A lot of the credit for that should go to MLS.
Often lost in the success story that has been Costa Rica these past few years is their reliance on MLS. While the team assembled for this Gold Cup may only have four players hailing from America’s pro league, each will be considered essential as the Ticos aim to win their first Gold Cup.
In Friday night’s opener at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, Costa Rica were able to defeat a plucky Honduras side 1-0 on a goal from Marco Urena off an assist by Rodney Wallace. Urena, who plays for the San Jose Earthquakes, connected well on the cross from Wallace, a member of New York City FC.
The fact the goal and assist that led to Costa Rica’s victory was an all-MLS affair should have come as no surprise. MLS has not only bolstered the talent pool for the United States, but also provided many Central American and Caribbean players an opportunity to develop and get minutes. At this Gold Cup, there are 51 players participating who are members of MLS clubs. All four of Costa Rica’s MLS players, for example, were in the starting lineup versus Honduras.
Indeed, MLS has made more CONCACAF nations competitive in recent years than any other league. At last year’s Copa America Centenario, a special edition of the South American championship that featured six CONCACAF teams, there were over two dozen MLS players named to various team rosters.
Costa Rica’s first division, known as Liga FPD, was founded in 1921 and has a long, glorious history. However, the 12-team league features just two teams (Alajuelense and Saprissa) who have the resources to develop and/or buy the country’s best players. The two clubs routinely win the title and are regulars each year in the CONCCAF Champions League. Therefore, it’s no surprise that emerging Costa Rican talent is either scooped up by MLS teams and increasingly by European clubs. This trend helped Costa Rica become the Cinderella side of the 2014 World Cup when it reached the quarterfinals. The team is currently second in the final round of World Cup qualifying and should qualify for next summer’s World Cup in Russia.
The other two MLS-based stars in Oscar Ramirez’s Costa Rica squad, tipped by many to win the Gold Cup, are Minnesota United players Francisco Calvo and Johan Venegas. There are currently 13 players from Costa Rica in MLS.
“I’ve followed and watched Rodney a lot here in MLS and know that every time he gets the ball on his left foot he looks for the forward and crosses the ball,” Urena told MLSSoccer.com. “He does a good job of that with David Villa in New York, and he has like eight assists. He’s a player that sets up chances well, so as a forward you just have to be in the area so he can find you.”
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The difference on Friday night between the two Central American rivals was Urena and Wallace. While Urena was a threat up top with his ability to run into space, Wallace served as a threat both on the wing and in the middle, where he helped the attack flow with his distribution. Both will be essential Tuesday in Houston when Costa Rica face Canada, another team loaded with MLS players who have had mixed results when it comes to player development.
“You have to read the game as well,” Wallace said when asked about his game. “There were opportunities to play in behind, and there were opportunities to come back and link up.”