La selección de Canadá impuso sus condiciones este domingo, eliminó de la Copa Oro a una errática Costa Rica con un triunfo por 2-0, que premió su mejor fútbol y orden en el campo y se clasificó a las semifinales del torneo donde se citó con México.
Los goles de Junior Hoilett, en el minuto 18, y de Stephen Eustaquio en el 69, le dieron a Canadá una victoria inapelable ante una Costa Rica errática y sin ideas en la ofensiva que deja con mucho trabajo por delante al entrenador colombiano Luis Fernando Suárez, quien asumió el cargo a finales de junio pasado.
Canadá se acomodó mejor en el terreno de juego y con la presión en toda la cancha desconectó los circuitos de una Costa Rica que lució incómoda, poco precisa y asfixiada en la salida.
Un pelotazo a las espaldas de los zagueros costarricenses encontró desmarcado a Junior Hoilett, quien ante la indecisión en la salida del portero Esteban Alvarado, abrió el marcador con un toque sutil por encima del guardameta.
El gol desconcertó aún más a Costa Rica que intentó ir al frente apoyada en un Joel Campbell que no contó con un socio en el ataque debido a la buena marca canadiense.
En el descanso, el seleccionador Suárez cambió prácticamente todo el ataque de la selección costarricense y envió al campo al veterano '10' Bryan Ruiz, al extremo Luis Díaz y al delantero José Ortiz en busca de un cambio de rumbo y de la claridad que careció en el primer tiempo.
Los cambios le dieron a Costa Rica un poco más de tenencia de la pelota, pero sin la profundidad y claridad necesaria para generar ocasiones de gol, mientras Canadá mantuvo sólido el bloque defensivo y las salidas rápidas al contragolpe con Cavallini, Hoilett y Buchanan.
Canadá siguió ejerciendo la presión alta y en el minuto 69 robó una pelota en la salida costarricense que quedó en los pies de Stephen Eustaquio, quien remató entre las piernas del portero Alvarado para el 2-0 definitivo.
En el último cuarto de hora Canadá controló el partido y pudo ponerle tintes de goleada al resultado de no ser por el portero Alvarado que evitó con sus pies un daño mayor ante remates de Buchanan y Akindele.
Canadá se enfrentará a México en las semifinales el próximo jueves, mientras que Costa Rica se despide por tercera edición consecutiva de la Copa Oro en la ronda de cuartos de final.
Ficha técnica
0. Costa Rica: Esteban Alvarado, Ronald Matarrita, Francisco Calvo, Óscar Duarte, Keysher Fuller; David Guzmán (Allan Cruz, m.66), Celso Borges (Jimmy Marín, m.90), Johan Venegas (Bryan Ruiz, m.46); Alonso Martínez (Luis Díaz, m.46), Ariel Lassiter (José Ortíz, m.46) y Joel Campbell.
Entrenador: Luis Fernando Suárez.
2. Canadá: Maxime Crepeau, Alistair Johnston, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller, Richie Laryea; Stephen Eustaquio, Mark Anthony Kaye (Samuel Piette, m.70), Tajon Buchanan (Theodor Corbeanu, m.88), Jonathan Osorio (Liam Fraser, m.84); Junior Hoilett (Tesho Akindele, m.70) y Lucas Cavallini (Doneil Henry, m.84).
Seleccionador: John Herdman.
Árbitro: el estadounidense Jair Marrufo.Amonestó a los canadienses Cavallini, Vitoria y Akindele.
Goles: 0-1, m.18: Hoilett. 0-2, m.69: Eustaquio.
Incidencias: Partido de los cuartos de final de la Copa Oro de la Concacaf disputado en el estadio AT&T de la cuidad estadounidense de Arlington, Texas.
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