Costa Rica currently sits atop the CONCACAF table with 14 points after defeating the United States 3-1 on Friday. The top three teams in the confederation automatically book passage to the finals next summer in Brazil while the fourth place team takes on New Zealand in a two-game playoff.
There are a number of scenarios that would help Costa Rica clinch. The first would be for the team to win against Jamaica. A victory gives the Ticos 17 points; fourth place Mexico can get a maximum of 17 points. A draw would only get them through if the United States defeated Mexico on Tuesday as Costa Rica would have 15 points and Mexico would only be able to get a maximum of 14.
Costa Rica can take another step towards the World Cup finals when they face a Jamaica side on the brink of elimination on Tuesday.
Jorge Luis Pinto’s team moved into first place in the final stage of Concacaf qualifying group for Brazil 2014 thanks to a 3-1 win over the United States on Friday.
Goals from Jhonny Acosta, Celso Borges and Joel Campbell in San Jose put Costa Rica one point clear of Jurgen Klinsmann’s side at the top.
Costa Rica have now scored 10 goals in the final round of qualifying, and they should be confident of adding to that tally against Jamaica, who have yet to taste victory in any of their seven games so far.
Winfried Schafer’s men did manage to hold on for a goalless draw with Panama at the weekend, despite the dismissal of Rodolph Austin, but history in this clash is very much against them.
They have not beaten Costa Rica since 1997, and slipped to a 2-0 defeat in San Jose back in March, Michael Umana and Diego Calvo getting the goals on that occasion.
This match represents a must-win situation for Jamaica. With only three points, the team can only garner a maximum of 12 points if it wins its final three games. A loss here would leave them in a dire situation as they would need Panama and Mexico to lose their final three games to have any hopes of finishing fourth. A Honduran victory would also eliminate Jamaica from a top three finish. A Jamaican loss combined with a Mexican win would also eliminate Jamaica from qualification altogether.
Prediction: Costa Rica should dominate this game despite being on the road; they beat Jamaica 2-0 last time they met in San Jose and will replicate the effort on Tuesday.
Start Time: 7 p.m. EST
