Rising and falling
Hot or Not? The United States v. Costa Rica Edition
Landon Donovan is in top form for club and country, but Alvaro Saborio has been on a tear in Major League Soccer in recent weeks. Here's a look at a few players who could play key roles on Friday night.
BY
Jon Arnold
Posted
September 05, 2013
3:31 PM
September 05, 2013
3:31 PM
Who's Hot?
Landon Donovan: The most feared player in CONCACAF is back. Michael Bradley might be the most important player, Clint Dempsey the one with the most European success, Jozy Altidore in the best international scoring form, but Donovan has been the face of the American boogeyman to the rest of the region for years. Now that he's back in the Hex, the press is firing up Donovan's hype machine again with the country's largest sports daily, Al Día, serving up this cover Tuesday.His reputation aside, Donovan returns to the "A-team" playing well for both club and country, scoring in his previous two MLS matches. And you remember that Gold Cup, don't you? The rest of the region won't soon forget the tournament MVP-winning show he put on at his U.S. reunion tour. Don't expect any problems—except for the Ticos—if Jurgen Klinsmann slots him immediately into the starting XI. Alvaro Saborio: It's stereotypical. The American writer picks the known quantity as the opposing player to watch. But Saborio's selection as a player in great form is because of just that—his form—not any sort of uninspired research. After a hat trick against the New York Red Bulls in a losing effort on July 27, Saborio scored in the next three matches he played. He was held scoreless by the LA Galaxy but got back on the board this weekend against the Portland Timbers. He almost had a second but was correctly whistled offside. Not only does it give Sabo the best goals-per-90-minutes mark among MLS players who have played at least eight matches (Erick Torres has a better mark in 630 minutes), but it establishes him as the Tico attacker in the best form. By far. Unlike the March qualifier, when there were questions about how fit the Real Salt Lake man was, there's no doubt Saborio should be at his best Tuesday.Esta es nuestra portada de hoy 3/9/13. Compartila si crees que #LaSeleCR ganará el juego http://t.co/4ZC6yGWzFs http://t.co/B7L1QKjMAu
— Periódico Al Día (@aldiacr) September 3, 2013