- Robert O'Reilly
- Sun, Jun 15 2014
Costa Rica produced the upset of the 2014 World Cup so far as they decisively dispatched a disappointing Uruguay side 3-1 in Fortaleza.
Second half strikes from Joel Campbell. Oscar Duarte and substitute Marc Urena cancelled out Edinson Cavani’s opener to secure a famous win for La Sele.
Uruguay took the lead on 23 minutes from the penalty spot as the referee awarded them a penalty after Diego Lugano was hauled down by Junior Diaz. Cavani stepped up and despite Keylor Francis diving the right way; the PSG front man netted his 22nd international goal.
Costa Rica came close to a perfect response as Arsenal forward Campbell picked up the ball 25-yards from goal but his fierce effort flew just over the bar.
Costa Rica drew level early in the second half as excellent work from Cristian Gamboa saw the winger deliver the ball into the box and it fell to the unmarked Campbell who fired a left foot drive into the bottom corner of the net.
Their comeback was complete three minutes later as a free kick slightly right of goal was lofted into the back post and Duarte evaded the attention of his marker Christian Stuani to head across Fernando Muslera to give Costa Rica a shock lead.
As the injured Luis Suarez remained an unused substitute, Costa Rica sealed their victory in the final ten minutes. Urena, who had only come off the bench seconds beforehand, was played in behind a statuesque Uruguayan defence and he coolly slotted pass Muslera with his first touch of the game.
Los Charruas were reduced to ten men in the final minute of the game as Maxi Pereira had a wild swipe at Joel Campbell as he ran the ball into the corner to compound a miserable night for Uruguay.
Costa Rica will be looking to replicate this performance against Italy on Thursday while it will be win or bust for Uruguay against England.
Uruguay: Fernando Muslera; Maxi Pereira, Diego Godin, Diego Lugano, Martin Caceras; Cristian Rodriguez (Abel Hernandez 76), Walter Gargano (Alvaro Gonzalez 60), Egldio Arevalo, Cristian Stuani; Diego Forlan (Nicolas Lodeiro 60), Edinson Cavani.
Subs not used: Jose Maria Gimenez Jorge Fucile, Sebastian Coates, Rodrigo Munoz, Alvaro Pereira, Diego Perez, Gaston Ramirez, Martin Silva, Luis Suarez
Booked: Diego Lugano (50), Walter Gargano (56)
Sent Off: Maxi Pereira (94)
Costa Rica: Keylor Navas; Oscar Duarte, Junior Diaz, Cristian Gamboa, Giancario Gonzalez, Michael Umana; Ceiso Borges, Christian Bolanos (Michael Barrantes 88), Yeltsin Tejeda (Jose Miguel Cubero 74); Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz (Marco Urena 83)
Subs not used: Daniel Cambronero, Diego Calvo, Randall Brenes, Johnny Acosta, Waylon Francis, Oscar Granados, Roy Miller, Dave Myrie, Patrick Pemberton
Booked: None
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
Attendance: 58,679
Extratime Man of the Match: Joel Campbell (Costa Rica)
