Gold Cup 2013: Breaking Down USA's Last Group-Stage Match vs. Costa Rica

Team USA will face imposing Costa Rica on Tuesday in Hartford, Conn., to close out the group stage of the 2013 Gold Cup.

USA, which has already secured a berth in the quarterfinals of the tournament, is hoping to capture an American-record eighth consecutive match against Costa Rica.

Of course, the Costa Ricans aren't going to go quietly. They haven't allowed a goal yet in the 2013 Gold Cup.

Here's a look at the keys to victory for Team USA on Tuesday in Connecticut.

Don't Be Careless with the Ball

Team USA may have had possession for nearly 76 percent of the match against Cuba on Saturday, but there were also plenty of sloppy mistakes by the Americans. Most notably, Brek Shea was completely lost.

According to MLSSoccer.com's chalkboard, Shea lost a whopping 14 balls on Saturday. Keep in mind, that was in just 45 minutes, before Jurgen Klinsmann replaced him with Jose Torres at halftime.

Costa Rica isn't Belize or Cuba. If the Americans play sloppy from the start on Tuesday, there's a good chance they are going to get burned by a side still thinking about its World Cup qualifying loss to USA back in March.

Which brings me to my next point...

Don't Be Complacent

Team USA may have eventually gone on to a 4-1 victory over Cuba on Saturday, but the Cubans were leading until Landon Donovan equalized in stoppage time in the first half.

You can bet Costa Rica is going to come out firing on Tuesday. If the Americans play like they did in the first half against Cuba, it's likely going to be an ugly wake-up call for Klinsmann's side.

Shea wasn't the only one who looked lost on the pitch in the first half against Cuba. It was a team effort.

Capitalize on Opportunities

Costa Rica has yet to allow a goal in the 2013 Gold Cup. The Americans aren't going to be handed 18 shots like they were against Cuba.

In that sense, the Americans have to be even more efficient around the net. 

Wondolowski has been a great surprise thus far (five goals from 10 shots), while Landon Donovan has come back to prove his worth to Klinsmann, posting two goals from four shots.

But Wondolowski and Donovan will likely need more help from their teammates to be able to dispatch the Costa Ricans. Each member of Team USA better be fired up after a lackluster first half against Cuba.