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CONCACAF Gold Cup Preview: Costa Rica boss eager for Honduras clash

SoccerNews in General Soccer News 18 Jul 2013

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Costa Rica manager Jorge Luis Pinto cannot wait for his side’s CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final against Honduras on Sunday.

Both sides have lost once and won twice in their opening three Gold Cup fixtures, with Costa Rica missing out on a 100 per cent group C record following their defeat against the USA on Tuesday.

However, despite the loss against the Americans following a late Brek Shea goal, Pinto was pleased with his side’s efforts.

“We feel that we played very well,” he told the CONCACAF website.

“We’re going to continue to improve on what we’re doing. I’m happy that collectively we improved our game and we have been able to do things better.”

He also told of his excitement at facing rivals Honduras in the quarter-finals.

“I always love playing Honduras. They’re always tough games. All we have to do is play with the mentality that we always have and hopefully it will put us through.

“One of the things I always say is that Honduras-Costa Rica is always a type of derby. We expect a great game.”

Prior to the defeat against America, Costa Rica had gone 785 minutes without conceding, helping them to victories over Cuba and Belize, finishing in second and three points clear of Cuba as a result.

Honduras on the other hand have been more clinical in their matches, if slightly less lethal than Costa Rica in front of goal.

Three goals have been enough to secure them wins against Haiti and El Salvador, while they conceded their first goals of the competition against Trinidad and Tobago in their last game, losing 2-0.

In the 54 games that the two sides have played one another, Honduras have taken 19 wins while Costa Rica have 22, suggesting that the fixture could go either way.

One man who is likely to have a say in the result is Costa Rica’s Michael Barrantes Rojas, who is joint-third-highest goalscorer in the competition with two.

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