Costa Rica vs USMNT final score: U.S. going to World Cup

The United States men’s national team lost its final World Cup qualifier on Wednesday but is headed to the 2022 World Cup with a third-place finish in CONCACAF’s Octagonal.

[ MORE: USMNT World Cup qualifying schedule ]

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas played a brilliant first half and Los Ticos scored twice off U.S. errors in the box to win 2-0 in San Jose on Wednesday.

Man City goalkeeper Zach Steffen won’t want to watch the highlights of a slow reaction to Juan Pablo Vargas’ 51st-minute header off a set piece and a misadventure that helped Anthony Contreras double the advantage.

Costa Rica 2, USMNT 0

Goals scorers: Vargas (51′), Contreras (59′)

Shots: Costa Rica 12, USMNT 15

Shots on target: Costa Rica 5, USMNT 6

Possession: Costa Rica 35, USMNT 65

1. Berhalter, USMNT finish Octagonal with mission accomplished: The journey from Couva to Qatar has not been an easy one and almost every single one of the World Cup qualifying windows has seen the USMNT throw at least one stinker out there. There was the 0-0 at El Salvador, an insipid 1-0 loss at Panama, and a humbling defeat to Canada in Hamilton.

But the Americans played some of their best football of the Gregg Berhalter era over the final 270 minutes of World Cup qualifying save for Zack Steffen in San Jose on Wednesday and a 10-minute, coach-designed tactical brake-pushing at the end of the scoreless draw with Mexico. Opposition chances were at a premium and the Yanks were superior away to Mexico and Costa Rica — just not at goalkeeper — was also smashing a desperate Panama at home.

Forget Mexico being down and the general malaise of every nation not named Canada for a minute, because there will be a lot of time to ask serious questions about how this backline can