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| Uruguay's Edinson Cavani shoots to score his penalty against Costa Rica during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at theCastelao stadium in Fortaleza, June 14, 2014. Credit: Reuters |
The
result left Uruguay's World Cup ambitions in disarray in this, one of the
toughest groups in the tournament. They face England in Sao Paulo next
while the jubilant Costa Ricans, who have only once made it out of the group
stages at a World Cup, travel to Recife to take on Italy. The Italians
will not take that match lightly. Costa Rica were every bit as good as Uruguay
in the heat of Fortaleza's Castelao arena and thoroughly deserved to
win. Promising young striker Joel Campbell set them on the way, chesting
down a cross from the right after 54 minutes and slamming home a low shot to
cancel out Edinson Cavani's first- half penalty. Centre back Oscar Duarte
then put the Central Americans ahead just three minutes later with a brave
diving header at the back post from a Christian Bolanos free
kick.
Substitute Marco Urena completed one of most memorable victories in his country's modest footballing history with a third in the 84th minute, silencing an army of sky blue-clad fans who had made the trip north from the River Plate.
Substitute Marco Urena completed one of most memorable victories in his country's modest footballing history with a third in the 84th minute, silencing an army of sky blue-clad fans who had made the trip north from the River Plate.
Uruguay Misery
To compound Uruguay's misery, defender Maxi Pereira became the first man to be sent off at this World Cup when he was shown a straight red for upending Campbell with a nasty kick to the shin in stoppage time.
"I didn't hear anyone saying Holland would be favourites against Spain or that Costa Rica would win," Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez told reporters.
"But that's what we saw. Once the game starts, everything depends on the mentality of the players."
The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations from the heavily outnumbered Costa Rican fans.
The have not made it to the knock-out stage of a World Cup since 1990 in Italy. At their last attempt, in Germany in 2006, they lost all three matches and conceded nine goals.
Saturday's game looked to be heading the same way early on.
The Uruguayans controlled much of the play and went ahead through Cavani's penalty after Diego Lugano went down in the box under pressure from Costa Rica defender Junior Diaz.
It was yet another slightly dubious penalty decision at this World Cup. Diaz clearly had his arms around the waist of his opponent but even so the Uruguayan captain made a meal of the challenge.
Nevertheless, German referee Felix Brych pointed to the spot and Cavani slammed home the kick, beating Costa Rica's highly-rated goalkeeper Keylor Navas at his left post.
But even then there were signs of what was to come.
To compound Uruguay's misery, defender Maxi Pereira became the first man to be sent off at this World Cup when he was shown a straight red for upending Campbell with a nasty kick to the shin in stoppage time.
"I didn't hear anyone saying Holland would be favourites against Spain or that Costa Rica would win," Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez told reporters.
"But that's what we saw. Once the game starts, everything depends on the mentality of the players."
The final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations from the heavily outnumbered Costa Rican fans.
The have not made it to the knock-out stage of a World Cup since 1990 in Italy. At their last attempt, in Germany in 2006, they lost all three matches and conceded nine goals.
Saturday's game looked to be heading the same way early on.
The Uruguayans controlled much of the play and went ahead through Cavani's penalty after Diego Lugano went down in the box under pressure from Costa Rica defender Junior Diaz.
It was yet another slightly dubious penalty decision at this World Cup. Diaz clearly had his arms around the waist of his opponent but even so the Uruguayan captain made a meal of the challenge.
Nevertheless, German referee Felix Brych pointed to the spot and Cavani slammed home the kick, beating Costa Rica's highly-rated goalkeeper Keylor Navas at his left post.
But even then there were signs of what was to come.
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| Costa Rica's Oscar Duarte (6) heads to score a goal past Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera (1) during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza, June 14, 2014. Credit: Reuters |
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| Costa Rica's Joel Campbell (bottom R) shoots to score a goal against Uruguay during their 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match at theCastelao arena in Fortaleza, June 14, 2014. Credit: Reuters |
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