Costa Rica vs Trinidad and Tobago
World Cup Qualifiers – North & Central America
Date: Wednesday, 14th June 2017
Kick-off at 3:00 UK/ 4:00 CET
Venue: Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (San Jose).
Trinidad and Tobago travel to Costa Rica for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier. The hosts could do with the three points as they look to get things back on track, whilst the visitor’s prospects are looking bleaker with every passing game.
Costa Rica’s bid to make another World Cup hit something of stumbling block in the midweek 0-0 draw at home to Panama. It was a rare home qualification slip up, ending a run of 10 straight wins in front of their own crowd.
“La Tricolor” will be looking to recapture that form here, with the three points looking imperative with tricky trips to the US and Mexico to come in the next round of fixtures. Oscar Ramirez’s men currently sit on 8 points from 5 games, seeing them occupy second place in the group and a win would certainly have them in pole position in the race to Russia.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago are certainly not leading the pack, lying bottom having lost all but one game. “The Soca Warriors” look a shadow of the side that reached the World Cup for the first time ever in 2006 and simply have to take something here if they are to haul themselves back into contention.
It’s hard to back them to do so, however. New boss Tom Saintfiet changed little in the midweek 2-0 loss in the States, with another blank fired by an attack that has scored just twice in the 5 games contested so far.
Overall we are backing Costa Rica to have no issues in dispatching of their shot shy opponents. They’ve won the last 5 against Trinidad, scoring an average of 3 goals a game in the process and keeping a clean sheet in all but one of those victories.
Trinidad have not looked strong at either end recently and given the host’s imperious home record we simply can’t see them standing up to them. Costa Rica have now kept a clean sheet in 8 of their last 11 home qualifiers, whilst scoring an average of 2.45 goals a game over the same period. We are backing the hosts to keep another clean sheet here and to maintain their average attacking output with a 2-0 win.
Costa Rica vs Trinidad and Tobago: Head-to-head
The Soca Warriors have only 2 wins in their 19 matches against Costa Rica in all competitions, both coming in the Gold Cup competitions. The La Tricolor bagged 13 wins during the period alongside 4 draws.
Costa Rica are currently on a 9 match unbeaten run against T&T with 7 wins and 2 draws. Also, they won the last 5 of the series.
Trinidad and Tobago have never beaten Costa Rica in a World Cup qualification fixture. The overall record is 12 wins and 3 draws in the favour of Costa Rica.
Costa Rica vs Trinidad and Tobago: Predictions
It is a clear fact that Trinidad and Tobago have often come to the party in their duels against Costa Rica in the qualification campaigns. The head-to-head records alone speak for itself.
With the home side in tremendous pressure to bounce back with a win, one must expect them to go into the attacking front from the kick-off. We are likely to see a high scoring first half in this game with the second half responsibilities lying in protecting the lead and securing the three points.
Costa Rica vs Trinidad & Tobago Predictions
Costa Rica to win to nil at 8/11 with bet365
Correct Score Prediction
Costa Rica to Win 2-0 at 9/2 with bet365
