In Costa Rica’s first-ever Concacaf Gold Cup match on home soil, Allan Cruz scored a world-class goal and provided an assist in the Ticos’ 4-0 blowout of Nicaragua on Sunday night in San Jose, Costa Rica. With the win, Costa Rica top Group B one match into the continent’s biggest soccer tournament.
Cruz tapped the ball to Celso Borges in the 19th minute to give the Ticos a two-goal lead. The FC Cincinnati Young DP then scored in the 75th minute when he curled a first-time shot in off the cross bar.
Cruz, who plays as a winger for FC Cincinnati, started as a center midfielder.
He wasn’t the only Orange and Blue player for the Ticos.
Captain and center back Kendall Waston also started for Costa Rica and earned a clean sheet. He also drew a yellow card in the 15th minute.
"We wanted this win for our community, especially because in the last couple games we had not been winning," Waston said after the match, via a translator. "We started the Concacaf Gold Cup on the right foot making history with the first Gold Cup game being played here. We continue to go step by step."
Costa Rica lead Group B on goal differential one match into the Gold Cup. Their next game is Thursday night against Bermuda in Frisco, Texas. That match starts at 9 p.m. ET.
Other FCC players in the Gold Cup
- Darren Mattocks, Alvas Powell and the Jamaican National Team begin their Gold Cup campaign Monday night against Honduras. Kickoff is at 9 p.m. ET and the match is at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The match will be televised on FS1.
- Emery Welshman and Guyana will play in their first major tournament Tuesday night in Minnesota when the Golden Jaguars face the U.S. Men’s National Team. The Americans are the reigning Gold Cup champions and will play their first match since the friendly last Sunday at Nippert Stadium. The USMNT-Guyana match begins at 10 p.m. ET and will be televised on FS1.
