USMNT Reaches World Cup 2022 After Avoiding Massive Collapse vs. Costa Rica; Fans React

Notwithstanding a 2-0 loss to Costa Rica on Wednesday, the United States finished third in the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), securing a spot in soccer's top-level event World Cup 2022, which begins in November.

Following a 5-1 win against Panama on Monday, the United States just needed to avoid losing by more than six goals to qualify and redeem itself for missing the 2018 World Cup in Russia, per Al Jazeera.

This youthful USMNT booked their ticket to Qatar on Wednesday night in the game held in San Jose, Costa Rica, despite a terrible 2-0 loss in which the team was inconsistent and challenged by the toughness of their adversary.

After the game, Christian Pulisic said that the team got frustrated because of their competitive spirit, and it took a while for them to realize that they will still advance to the World Cup 2022.

Keylor Navas, the Ticos' goalkeeper, showed why they deserve to return to soccer's grandest event, making six saves to keep the game tight, according to the LA Times. The final one may have altered the momentum because Costa Rica moved down the other end and scored the game's sole goal, with Juan Pablo Vargas leaping high to tip in a Brandon Weeden cross.

In the 51st minute, Aguilera scored from the center of the box. After the United States failed to clear the ball right in front of its net, Anthony Contreras doubled the lead eight minutes later, defeating American goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

Still Winners Despite Match Loss

In a post-game interview, Pulisic described to CBS Sports the team's journey in the tournament: "It's definitely been a roller coaster."

He admitted that it was "never easy" to play in the CONCACAF countries and the team "battled through most of it" which made them land in the top three, which qualifies them to compete in the World Cup 2022."We should be proud," he said.

For Walker Zimmerman, who sported the captain's armband in the clinching match, the final score didn't matter. "The goal was to qualify for the World Cup," he said.

The result of the match does not mean that this USMNT is a bad team; this squad has been far better than the one in the 2018 cycle. The current USMNT possesses so much skill, and never before has such a youthful team sported these colors and attained their achievement.

The team won half of their games, allowed only 10 goals in 14 games, and averaged 1.7 points per game, up from 1.2 in the previous cycle. And, perhaps most crucially, this was the youngest USMNT in qualification history, with an average age of 23 years and 302 days, and they accomplished what the squad from the previous cycle failed to do.

Fans React

Fans of the USMNT show their appreciation on social media for the impressive performance of the team that made them return to the World Cup.

Emerald Isle tweeted: "I really should have thought twice about staying up to watch the final #USMNT qualifying game when I had to be up so early this morning. Right now the current state is not a pretty sight and definitely too early for football and kids. But delighted USA qualified."

Sports site Bleacher Report also congratulated the USMNT:

Soccer coach and podcast host Blake Plonske wished the team well for their World Cup 2022 quest. "They've won on the continent, now it's time for the show. LET'S GO! GOOD LUCK FELLAS!", he tweeted.

Tags

World cup, Soccer, Usmnt, Panama