Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the CONCACAF Gold Cup match.
After the opening round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, these two national teams have taken up contrasting positions in the group standings: Costa Rica lead the group, while the Dominican Republic are at the bottom. As a result, Costa Rica come into this fixture as clear favourites.
Costa Rica
In their opening match, the team were involved in one of the highest-scoring encounters of the round. In a thrilling contest against Suriname, seven goals were scored, with Costa Rica coming out on top (4:3). Keylor Navas managed three saves from six shots on target. However, he was not to blame for the goals conceded: two came from defensive breakdowns that left Suriname with simple finishes, while the third was a penalty. The decisive goal was also scored from the spot by the experienced World Cup veteran in the 13th minute of second-half stoppage time.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic also took part in a high-scoring clash in their first group game. They held their own for much of the match against Mexico, one of the tournament’s front-runners, eventually falling to a narrow 2:3 defeat. While Costa Rica were wasteful in front of goal in their opener, so too were Mexico against the Dominican Republic. Xavier Valdez was kept busy, making five saves to keep his side within reach of a draw. The team were clinical when chances came, converting two of their five shots on target.
Costa Rica vs Dominican Republic Prediction
Based on the attacking output both teams displayed in the opening round, a similar pattern is expected in the upcoming match — plenty of goalmouth action, defensive lapses, and a solid number of goals. In this context, backing Total Over makes strong appeal.
