Mexico vs. Costa Rica result: El Tri held to scoreless home draw in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying

Simon Borg
• 13 min read
Hirving "Chucky" Lozano - Mexico - Nov. 12, 2021

So much for home sweet home. Mexico's attack fell flat in its return to its home field at the Estadio Azteca as Costa Rica held El Tri to a 0-0 draw. Mexico missed out on a chance to overtake the USA and move into second place in the CONCACAF table.

The draw does leave Mexico in third place (18 points), which is still a spot that grants a direct berth to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But fourth-place Panama is just one point away and will be the next visitor to the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday.

It's a golden point for Costa Rica, which has revived its qualifying hopes with last Thursday's win against Panama and the draw against El Tri. With better finishing, Costa Rica could have also come away with the full three points against Mexico. The visitors created the best chances of the match, two on breakaways and another on a 40th-minute wide-open header that fell to Celso Borges, who directed his attempt right at the 'keeper.

MORE: Updated CONCACAF qualifying standings and schedule

Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano returned to the Mexico starting lineup after his suspension, joining Rogelio Funes Mori and Jesus 'Tecatito' Corona in attack. But the trio didn't trouble Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, often opting for shots from outside the box and rarely taking on defenders one-on-one. Funes Mori scored a goal, but he was in an offside position and it was disallowed. Mexico also struck the crossbar on two occasions on a wayward Chaka Rodriguez cross and a Luis Romo shot that sailed high.

In-form Chivas attacker Alexis Vega was a surprise omission from the starting lineup and by the time he came on with 15 minutes remaining, it was too late to make a difference as spaces were tighter with Costa Rica shifting to a five-man backline. 

Manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino will have plenty of explaining to do as the pressure is dialed up on El Tri, which still has work to do to clinch a spot in the 2022 World Cup. And if Panama somehow pulls off a shock result on Wednesday, Mexico could be in real trouble.

Mexico vs. Costa Rica final score

  1H 2H Final
Mexico 0 0 0
Costa Rica 0 0 0

Goals: None

(All times Eastern)

Final: Mexico 0, Costa Rica 0

Final: There weren't many bright ideas in attack for Mexico and arguably the mix of personnel wasn't right on the day. There were few penetrating combinations, little involvement from the fullbacks and few dangerous crosses. It was a lazy attacking performance by Mexico, and an organized Costa Rica earned the result and should've probably deserved more given the chances it created. It's back to the drawing board for Tata Martino with a big match looming on Wednesday.

90th min.: Alexis Vega just whiffed on a bicycle kick. Mexico will have four more minutes to get the breakthrough. The desperation has set in for El Tri.

85th min.: SUB — Costa Rica brings in Daniel Chacon for Yeltsin Tejeda in midfield. Fresh legs to harass the Mexican ball carriers. Spaces are tight at this point as Costa Rica tries to hold on to this draw. It would be a golden point.

83rd min.: Mexico hits the woodwork again. This time it's a shot by Luis Romo. It's just not falling for Mexico. It might very well be Costa Rica's night.

81st min.: YELLOW — Hector Moreno gets a caution card that will rule him out of the next match against Panama. But the ensuing set piece goes wanting for Costa Rica.

74th min.: SUBS — Alexis Vega is finally coming on. Tecatito makes way. Vega was a catalyst for the team in Jamaica. Costa Rica is also making two subs: Bryan Ruiz and Juan Pablo Vargas are on for Celso Borges and Alonso Martinez. Costa Rica goes to five in the back (5-4-1 formation).

73rd min.: Mexico playing with more urgency in the attack, but it's still not clicking in attack. Orbelin Pineda fires high near the top of the box and those shots haven't been working all game.

63rd min.: SUB — Mexico forward Henry Martin and left back Gerardo Arteaga come on for Funes Mori and Gallardo. Costa Rica brings in Jefry Valverde for Gerson Torres.

61st min.: Mexico hits the woodwork! A cross from the right by Luis 'Chaka' Rodriguez sails over the head of goalkeeper Keylor Navas and kisses the crossbar. Changes coming for Mexico and Costa Rica.

55th min.: What a chance for Costa Rica! Alonso Martinez is one-on-one against goalkeeper Memo Ochoa and skies it. Mexico are living on the edge here at the Azteca. Costa Rica looks closer to a goal than the home team.

50th min.: YELLOW — Luis "Chaka" Rodriguez gets a yellow card and he will miss the next Mexico match. But Costa Rica can't take advantage of the set piece.

46th min.: Two changes for Mexico as the second half kicks off: Orbelin Pineda and Luis Romo come in for Charly Rodriguez and Edson Alvarez in midfield. They need energy and runs out of midfield from both those players to bother Costa Rica.

Halftime: Mexico 0, Costa Rica 0

46th+ min.: Hector Herrera with a dangerous shot on goal via set piece but Tico goalkeeper Keylor Navas confidently parries away and Costa Rica goes into the break scoreless.

40th min.: Costa Rica chance! Celso Borges all alone on the header and it's an easy stop for Memo Ochoa. Costa Rica continues to be dangerous on the counter. Borges was wide open on the header. The Ticos have the best chance of the game so far.

39th min.: YELLOW — Another caution for Costa Rica. Keysher Fuller goes in the book, which is good news for the Mexico wingers, who will surely target him.

37th min.: Mexico 'keeper Memo Ochoa has to come off his line to stop a Costa Rica attack and that's followed by another Chucky Lozano shot that's high from distance. Mexico needs Chucky to take on players instead of settling for a low percentage shot.

34th min.: Chucky Lozano shot high of the bar. Mexico is picking up the attacking pace here.

32nd min.: Goal Mexico, but it's disallowed! Great play by Tecatito down the left and Rogelio Funes Mori puts home the loose ball. But it turns out Funes Mori was offside on the original touch by Tecatito.

26th min.: Another weak header by Chucky Lozano and a hopeful shot by Hector Herrera (which was probably a cross). El Tri is not clicking, passes aren't sharp. It doesn't look like Mexico is on tonight.

23rd min.: Mexico is not really able to create much so far. Costa Rica is well-organized, as is always the case with the Ticos. El Tri needs to get Tecatito and Chucky going on the wings. They can't find them so far.

13th min.: YELLOW — Costa Rica's Alonso Martinez gets a yellow card for a stomp. First caution of the game.

12th min.: First goal kick of the match at the Estadio Azteca and the fans shout out "Mexico" in lieu of the homophobic chant that is the reason why Mexico only has a small crowd of 2,000 employees and corporate partners at this home qualifier. All 2,000 fans were registered for the match and if there is a homophobic chant, officials are going to track down the guilty fans and ban them for five years.

10th min.: Costa Rica chance! Joel Campbell to Alonso Martinez in transition and Memo Ochoa has to come up with the save. Costa Rica was dangerous there in open space.

3rd min.: Set piece taken by Tecatito Corona and sent into the box, but Chucky Lozano can't direct his header on target.

1st min.: We're off with a small crowd at the Estadio Azteca and Mexico is already on the front foot.

5:58 p.m.: As we get set for kickoff, here are the highlights of the five changes in the Mexico lineup:

5:15 p.m.: A storied stadium for an important match:

Mexico vs. Costa Rica lineups

The return of ‘Chucky’ Lozano in attack, along with the recovery of midfielder Edson Alvarez and center back Cesar Montes (COVID-19) will be a boost to Mexico’s hopes of delivering a convincing performance. Raul Jimenez was always going to be a gameday decision and doesn't make the cut.

Right back Jorge Sanchez won’t be available due to a left MCL injury suffered against Jamaica, the extent of which was not disclosed. Chaka Rodriguez gets the start instead. No Jonathan Orozco, Osvaldo Rodriguez, Andres Guardado or Uriel Antuna on the matchday roster.

Mexico starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right):  13-Guillermo Ochoa (GK) — 23-Jesus Gallardo, 15-Hector Moreno, 3-Cesar Montes, 21-Luis Rodriguez — 8-Carlos ‘Charly’ Rodriguez, 4-Edson Alvarez, 16-Hector Herrera — 17-Jesus ‘Tecatito’ Corona, 11-Rogelio Funes Mori, 22-Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano

Mexico subs (12): 1-Alfredo Talavera (GK), 12-Rodolfo Cota (GK), 6-Julian Araujo, 5-Johan Vasquez, 2-Nestor Araujo, 19-Gerardo Arteaga, 14-Erick Gutierrez, 7-Luis Romo, 9-Diego Lainez, 20-Henry Martin, 10-Alexis Vega, 18-Orbelin Pineda

Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez confirmed there would be changes due to the physical toll of Thursday’s gritty home win over Panama. 

Winger Randall Leal (gastroenteritis) is out and midfielder Orlando Galo will also miss the match due to a knock picked up against Panama. Jefry Valverde (San Carlos) and Anthony Contreras (Guanacasteca) were called up to fill the void. Regulars Oscar Duarte (right thigh), Cristian Gamboa (hip) and Ricardo Blanco (right hamstring) are not with the team due to injury, and third-string ‘keeper Esteban Alvarado was a last-minute scratch after he was not permitted to leave Costa Rica by authorities due to a legal matter.

Costa Rica starting lineup (4-5-1, right to left): 1-Keylor Navas (GK) — 4-Keysher Fuller, 19-Kendall Waston, 15-Francisco Calvo, 8-Bryan Oviedo — 13-Gerson Torres, 5-Celso Borges, 17-Yeltsin Tejeda, 2-Youstin Salas, 16-Alonso Martinez — 12-Joel Campbell

Costa Rica subs (12):  23-Leonel Moreira (GK), 3-Juan Pablo Vargas, 6-Daniel Chacon, 22-Ronald Matarrita, 7-Douglas Lopez, 14-Jefry Valverde, 10-Bryan Ruiz, 20-Aaron Suarez, 11-Johan Venegas, 9-Jewison Bennette, 18-Anthony Contreras, 21-Jose Guillermo Ortiz

How to watch Mexico vs. Costa Rica

  • Date: Sun, Jan. 30, 2022
  • Time: 6 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: Univision, TUDN
  • Streaming: fuboTV, Paramount+

The Mexico vs. Costa Rica World Cup qualifier from the Estadio Azteca will be broadcast on Univision and TUDN in the USA. Both channels can be streamed on fuboTV, which is available via free trial.

The match will also be streamed in English on CBS streaming platform Paramount+.

MORE: How Mexico won on the road against Jamaica

There will be 2,000 fans in attendance at the Estadio Azteca comprised of Mexican federation staff and corporate partners, as the federation institutes a pilot program to help it eradicate a homophobic chant that has forced it to play the Jan. 30 and Feb. 2 qualifiers behind closed doors.

Mexico vs. Costa Rica betting odds, pick & prediction

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

The lines for this game tell the story: The outlook clearly calls for a Mexico home victory, and likely by a shutout. The only suspense — and the most compelling odds — lies in how many goals El Tri will score and what the margin of victory will be.

During this final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, Mexico is averaging 2.38 xG at the Estadio Azteca and Costa Rica is giving up 1.53 xgA on the road per FootyStats. So projecting two goals scored by Mexico is not much of a reach, except for the fact that the Ticos have Paris Saint-Germain master shot-stopper Keylor Navas in goal and they’ve only actually conceded three goals in four road matches so far.

MORE: Which teams have qualified to 2022 FIFA World Cup?

So which will outshine the other? Mexico attack or Costa Rica defense? El Tri has a chip on its shoulder to prove the critics wrong after two previous losses to the USA and Canada, and a scare against Jamaica. Tata Martino’s men should have an edge to their game, and the sparse crowd could help take away some of the pressure that’s usually present at the Azteca. The return of an in-form Chucky Lozano should make Mexico difficult to contain.

Pick: Mexico -1.25 Asian Handicap (-125)

Prediction: Mexico 3, Costa Rica 0

  • Moneyline: Mexico -330 / Draw +400 / Costa Rica +850
  • Spread: Mexico -1.5 (+100) / Costa Rica +1.5 (-135)
  • O/U 2.5 total goals: Over +105 / Under -135
  • Both Teams To Score: Yes +165 / No -220
Author(s)
Simon Borg
soccer
Mexico
Mexico
Costa Rica
N/C America
WC Qualification Concacaf
Costa Rica
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