Mexico will continue their quest for a place in this year’s FIFA World Cup when they welcome Costa Rica to the Estadio Azteca on Sunday night.
Venue: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
Key Statistics
Mexico have scored 13 goals in the current World Cup qualifier (WCQ) campaign. Only Canada have scored more goals in the group.
The hosts are unbeaten at home in the WCQ’s winning two and drawing one of their opening three home games.
Costa Rica are winless away from home in their last five games (D3, L2).
The visitors have failed to score in four of their last five away games.
Head to head
Mexico are unbeaten against Costa Rica in their last nine meetings ( 90 minutes only). The hosts have won eight of the last 15 head-to-head meetings between both sides. Costa Rica have only one win in that period (D6).
Latest performances in all competitions
Mexico: W-D-L-L-L
Costa Rica: W-W-L-L-W
Mexico
Mexico took another step towards their World Cup qualification quest with a 2-1 win over ten-men Jamaica on Thursday.
Late goals from Henry Martin and Alexis Ernesto Vega secured the win for the ‘El Tri’ who had gone behind early in the second half courtesy of a Daniel Johnson goal for Jamaica.
The win ensured they remain in third, one point behind USA and three ahead of Panama in fourth.
With five more matches left to play, Gerardo Martino’s cannot afford to drop any more points if they want to book an automatic place in the November tournament.
Their chances of winning this tie remain high, given that they are unbeaten against Costa Rica in their last nine meetings.
Possible Mexico starting line-ups
Guillermo Ochoa; Luis Rodriguez, Nestor Araujo, Hector Moreno, Jesus Gallardo; Hector Herrera, Carlos Rodriguez, Diego Lainez; Jesus Corona, Alexis Vega, Rogelio Funes Mori.
Injured: Raul Jimenez, Jorge Sanchez
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Costa Rica
Costa Rica boosted their chances of appearing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup by securing a 1-0 win over Panama on Thursday.
The victory, which was secured courtesy of a strike by captain Bryan Ruiz brought the visitors to within two points of Panama, who are currently occupying the playoffs position in the table.
The win was also their second consecutive win in the qualifiers, as it followed a 2-1 win over Honduras in November.
As such, Luis Fernando Suárez’s side will come into this tie full of confidence and looking to make it three wins in a row.
However, they have struggled against Mexico in recent times, losing each of their last five meetings with their hosts. However, the signs are there for a shock win, but they must dig deep to stand any chance of taking maximum home points in New Mexico City.
Possible Costa Rica starting line-ups
Keylor Navas; Fuller Keysher, Kendall Waston, Francisco Calvo, Ronald Matarrita; Orlando Galo, Yeltsin Tejeda, Alonso Martinez, Aaron Suarez; Jose Ortiz, Joel Campbell.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Mexico 1-1 Costa Rica
