Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On June 19, 2025, the second round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup will feature a Group A clash between Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. The match is scheduled to kick off at 1:00 AM Central European Time. Let's take a look at a bet on one team's scoring prowess in this encounter.
Costa Rica
The Costa Rica national team kicked off their Gold Cup campaign with a hard-fought but crucial 4-3 victory over Suriname. Despite a confident start and two quick goals, Los Ticos unexpectedly lost their advantage and found themselves trailing 2-3 by the middle of the second half. However, the team’s experience shone through — substitutions strengthened their play, and in the dying minutes Costa Rica snatched the win by converting a penalty. The hero of the match was Manfred Ugalde, who netted a brace — both goals from the penalty spot. The team demonstrated character, but also showed that they have yet to find the optimal balance between attack and defense.
Alongside Mexico, Costa Rica are considered favorites in Group A and will undoubtedly be aiming to collect maximum points before their head-to-head showdown with the Mexicans. Victory in the next match would allow the team to approach the third round in a very comfortable position and potentially secure an early place in the playoffs.
Recall that at the previous Gold Cup in 2023, Costa Rica advanced from the group in second place, but fell to Mexico 0-2 in the quarterfinals — to the future tournament champions.
The Dominican Republic, Costa Rica’s next opponents, have only faced Los Ticos once before — in a 2013 friendly. On that occasion, Costa Rica cruised to a resounding 4-0 win.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic national team made a strong impression in their Gold Cup debut, despite a 2-3 defeat to defending champions Mexico. The team kept the game alive until the very end: trailing for most of the match, they managed to score a second goal in the 67th minute and remained in contention right up to the final whistle.
This tournament is a historic occasion for the Dominican Republic. The team has qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in its history, marking its debut on the major international stage. Nevertheless, the squad is already displaying fighting spirit and organized football.
In recent years, the team has made significant strides. In the CONCACAF Nations League, they confidently topped their group in League B and earned promotion to League A — among the region’s elite. In World Cup qualifying, the Dominicans put up a respectable fight, although they fell short of advancing, losing out to Jamaica and Guatemala in the battle for a playoff spot.
For the Dominican Republic, this tournament is above all an invaluable experience and a chance to make a name for themselves. The team plays boldly and with passion, and in the upcoming match against Costa Rica, they certainly won’t be sitting back. Expect an exciting and vibrant contest.
Probable lineups
- Costa Rica: Navas, Calvo, Faerron, Mitchell, K. Mora, J. Mora, Flores, Alcocer, Galo, Martinez, Ugalde.
- Dominican Republic: Valdez, Urbaez, Pujol, Dollenmayer, Rosario, Lopez, Reyes, Merschel, Romero, Caparros, Peter Federico.
Interesting facts and head-to-head
- Costa Rica have won 5 of their last 6 matches.
- 7 of Costa Rica’s last 8 matches have seen over 2.5 goals.
- 8 of the last 9 Dominican Republic games have ended with over 2.5 goals.
- This is the first official competitive meeting between these teams.
Costa Rica vs Dominican Republic match prediction
This match is expected to see a confident and high-scoring victory for Costa Rica. Despite the fighting spirit and effort of tournament newcomers the Dominican Republic, the Costa Rican side’s level and experience are significantly higher. Having already faced some difficulties in the first round, Costa Rica will surely be looking to avoid repeating those mistakes. Expect Los Ticos to take control from the opening minutes and secure a convincing result, positioning themselves perfectly for the decisive clash with Mexico with maximum points and minimal pressure. My bet for this match is Costa Rica’s individual total over 1.5 goals at odds of 1.59.
