U.S. vs. Costa Rica 1st half live blog

This is Jurgen Klinsmann's second match as the U.S. head coach. This friendly between CONCACAF rivals takes place in Carson, California.

U.S. starting 11:
Howard; Chandler, Orozco Fiscal, Bocanegra (c), Castillo; Donovan, Edu, Torres; Rogers, Altidore, Shea

Costa Rica starting 11:
Navas; Umaña, Miller, Johnson, Acosta; Barrantes, Azofeifa, Sánchez; Saborío, Brenes, Martínez (4-3-3)

Apparently this isn't Costa Rica's top squad, more of an experimental group.

Again, the U.S. doesn't have last names on the back of their jerseys and they all have the numbers 1-11. Interesting idea, we'll see if it works for Jurgen Klinsmann.

Torres with a great ball to Altidore but it's blown dead for offsides. Looked like a good chance.

Great combination play between Brek Shea and Altidore. Shea laid it off for Donovan who puts it inches wide. Should have been 1-0, wonderful opportunity.

Shea plays a ball to Altidore who chests it down and shoots wide.

Since the 2010 World Cup, the U.S. is 5-5-5. Thanks Bob Bradley.

U.S. wins its first corner kick in the 13th minute. Costa Rica's goalkeeper wins it but is out of bounds, another U.S. corner.

Costa Rica has been MIA in the first 15 minutes, the U.S. is controlling the ball and consequently the play.

First good chance for Costa Rica but they were offsides.

Jozy with his obligatory offsides call of the game, only took him 19 minutes into this one.

U.S. free kick 25 yards out from the top of the Costa Rica box, good chance right here. Haha Shea still has that goofy Eurotrash haircut, what's the deal with that? Donovan shoots it over.

Oh no, that Jorge Ramos bozo is back on the halftime show. Don't ask me who hired that joker. He brings absolutely nothing to the table but then again, Taylor Twellman is the new sideline reporter (shoots self in head).

Navas snags a cross from Rogers before Shea can get to it. A little more pace on that and the U.S. would have scored.

Donovan comes in on an angle but decides to lay it off for Altidore but it was behind him and Costa Rica knocks it out of bounds. To be fair to Donovan, a defender was right on his back.

Ian Darke says the U.S. "should be ahead but they're not." Couldn't have phrased it any better myself, dominant first half.

Costa Rica is 2-0-2 vs. the U.S. in the last four meetings, Howard has never beat them.

Nice save by Howard on a long distance strike, first shot by Costa Rica on goal.

The ball squirts through to a Costa Rican player who tries to go high but Howard knocks it over the bar for a corner kick.

0-0 at halftime.

Good first half by the U.S. but it would be nice if they led. It will be interesting to see who Klinsmann uses as substitutes in the second half. I have a feeling this game won't end scoreless.

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