World Cup match report: Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica

Uruguay 1-3 Costa Rica

                                      Cavani, 24 (p)             Campbell (54)
                                                                        Duarte (57)
                                                                        Urena (84) 



 

By Steven Oldham

Marcos Urena scored with his first touch as Costa Rica sealed a famous surprise victory over Uruguay in Fortaleza.

The Central Americans dominated the second half and grew in confidence despite going in at the break a goal behind.

Edinson Cavani converted a first half penalty for Uruguay, but that was as good as it got for Oscar Tabarez's team.

Arsenal striker Joel Campbell scored the equaliser from a sublime Cristian Gamboa cross, and within three minutes they were ahead.

Oscar Duarte's brave header put them in the lead despite the real chance of getting kicked in the head by Christian Stuani's desperate attempt to clear the ball.


Oscar Duarte risked injury to score for Costa Rica (@Futbol_RVTE)


Urena had only been on the pitch for a minute before scoring the goal that cemented Costa Rica's grip on the game after replacing Bryan Ruiz.

Maxi Pereira saw red - the first of this World Cup - for a vicious kick at Campbell in extra time and is now suspended for their next match against England on Thursday.  The referee had no hesitation in showing the Benfica man a straight red card.

Maxi Pereira kicks out at Joel Campbell (@Tholal)

 

It all looked much different before the break. Uruguay were in control without ever stepping out of third gear. They were awarded a penalty after Diego Lugano was hauled down in the box by Junior Diaz.  Paris Saint Germain forward Cavani converted the spot kick strongly to the bottom right corner. Keylor Navas went the right way but the shot had too much pace for him to reach it in time.

 

The Uruguayans also had the ball in the net on 16 minutes, but Diego Godin's conversion of a Lugano cross was disallowed due to the Atletico Madrid centre back being marginally offside.

 

Costa Rica wanted a penalty of their own earlier in the half after Lugano handled the ball in his area, but the referee had already blown for a foul on the defender by Oscar Duarte.

Navas kept his side in the game a minute before half time, saving a dipping Diego Forlan shot one handed.

 
Costa Rica had never beaten Uruguay before tonight, but have now stirred up Group D and handed a first defeat to a South American nation on the continent at this World Cup.

  

Diego Lugano is fouled (@goleadainfo)



World Cup 2014: Chile looking to put the heat on Spain and The Netherlands

By Steven Oldham

Friday's rerun of the 2010 Final between Spain and The Netherlands is the headline game in Group B but there is a real chance Chile could spoil the European nations' chances of making the knockout rounds.

Jorge Sampaoli's team head into a South American World Cup with high hopes of making the last 16, and it is not beyond them that they can do it.

Their biggest threat is Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez who racked up an impressive career best 19 goals in just 34 games this season in La Liga.  England fans will need no introduction to the in-form striker; he scored both goals in his country's 2-0 victory at Wembley last year.

He also hit four goals for Chile on the way to Brazil, including in the 2-1 victory over Ecuador in the final round of qualifying games that sealed their place at the World Cup.  Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal managed five goals and will be a threat to opposition defences.



Alexis Sanchez (Kevin Quigley)


An all or nothing approach to qualification took Chile to an impressive nine wins, the same as CONMEBOL group winners Argentina and runners up Colombia. Six defeats though meant they qualified as the third best team.

A win against Australia in their opening game is critical to Chile's chances. It is the best way for them to build momentum for the tougher games ahead.

This World Cup could bear similarities to last time in South Africa for Chile. Again drawn alongside Spain in the group stages, if they do proceed to the last 16 as runners up, they will again be likely to meet Brazil.  They lost 3-0 four years ago and avoiding a similar scoreline on Brazilian soil may prove difficult.

Their attacking style will gain them many neutral fans and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top when they meet a similarly-minded Netherlands team, who hit 34 goals in qualifying. The Dutch have laboured to friendly victories over Wales and Ghana, following a draw with Ecuador and defeat to France in their pre-tournament preparations. They blitzed their qualifying group, winning all but one of their games, but there was no teams in their group who could seriously contend with them.

Spain will rightly begin as favourites but Chile could prove a real thorn in any opponent's side on their day.

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