HARRISON, New Jersey – Costa Rica and El Salvador played out a tightly contested 0-0 draw on Friday evening at Red Bull Arena to give themselves life in Group C of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. Neither side has secured a win yet, but both remain in contention to advance.
For a period with no goals, the opening half was a hectic affair. Costa Rica were the aggressors, but failed to capitalize early and El Salvador grew into the match as time went on.
La Selecta spent the middle portion of the half camped out in the opposing final third, but were unable to create anything truly substantial. Then the tide swung back towards Los Ticos, and El Salvador GK Mario Gonzalez was called upon to make a big save on a thunderous shot from Celso Borges in the 39th minute.
But the best chance of the half was just at the stroke of 45 minutes, when El Salvador’s Brayan Gil unleashed from close range that was stopped by the crossbar.
The second half saw a similar pattern. The teams traded the momentum back and forth in five-minute intervals, but neither could really seize control of the game. Chances built up, fizzled out, and ended in long-range efforts that didn’t seriously test either keeper.
Costa Rica ramped up the pressure in the final 20 minutes. Joel Campbell made a nice move to set himself up, but put it just over the crossbar. Anthony Contreras tried his luck from long distance in the 89th minute before Waston had one more crack in the 94th that missed just inches wide.
The efforts were ultimately fruitless, and the game ended goalless, the first such result of the group stage.
The draw sees both teams remain tied for third in the group, with one point each. Both will need a win in their final group match to have any chance at reaching the knockout stage.
