Costa Rica winger Christian Bolanos. (Photo : Getty Images)
FIFA World no. 65 Trinidad and Tobago will clash with 18th-ranked Costa Rica in a fifth round match of the CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifiers set at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Nov. 11, Friday.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 7:00 p.m. UTC-4. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Trinidad and Tobago placed second to the United States in Group C of the fourth round of qualifiers to advance in the Hex. Guatemala and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were the two teams eliminated in the group.
The Soca Warriors were on top of the group until the final matchday of the fourth round when they were crushed by USMNT, 0-4, on the road at the EverBank Field in Jacksonville on Sep. 6, ESPN reported.
The United States would have been eliminated if Trinidad and Tobago defeated them in that match. Instead, Guatemala fell to third place even with a lopsided win over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the same matchday.
Head coach Stephen Hart's side started the game strong, but their enthusiasm was quenched the 44th-minute goal of US midfielder Sacha Kljestan to put them down by a point at the half. Three goals from Team USA in the second half, including a brace from striker Jozy Altidore, made the game a formality for both sides to advance.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica topped Group B competitions with a 3-1 thrashing of Panama at their home field of Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San José on Sep. 6, as per Sofa Score.
Right winger Christian Bolanos scored a brace in the 19th and 79th minute before teammate Ronald Matarrita made it a 3-0 count in the 84th.
Panama forward Luis Tejada netted a consolation goal right at the stroke of full time for the visitors to avoid a shutout loss.
Head coach Oscar Ramírez's side would still finish at the top of Group B even if they had lost or drawn, but the win gave them momentum entering the Hexagonal round.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 2-0 romp for Costa Rica.
Trinidad and Tobago starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Williams; Cyrus, Abu Bakr, Mitchell, David; Boucaud, Hyland; J. Jones, George, Cato; K. Jones
Costa Rica starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Navas; Gamboa, Umaña, Acosta, Oviedo; Borges, Bolanos, Azofeifa, Tejeda; Ruiz, Campbell
