Costa Rica appeal for USA replay

Costa Rica have appealed for a replay of their World Cup qualifier with the USA due to adverse weather affecting the match on Sunday.

Clint Dempsey’s 16th-minute strike gave the USA a 1-0 win in a match blighted by heavy snowfall in Colorado.

A Costa Rica Football Federation statement called for football’s global governing body, FIFA, to order a replay.

“What happened the night of Friday the 22nd … has no precedents, since it not only went against the sporting spectacle, but also against the physical integrity of the officials and players,” the statement read.

Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto had called for the game to be abandoned, but USA counterpart Juergen Klinsmann insisted it was fair to continue to play since both sides faced the same conditions.

The result on Friday leaves Costa Rica at the bottom of the World Cup qualifying table with one point from two matches.

USA sit second with three points.