COSTA RICA 1-1 (5-3 SO) GREECE
For the second straight game, Greece managed some injury time magic but it was not enough to carry them to a victory this time as Costa Rica pulled out the win in penalty kicks.
It took for a while for the game to get going in the first half with neither side managing some quality scoring chances before halftime. Costa Rica's best chance came in the 8th minute but Christian Bolanos fired a shot from 15 yards over the crossbar.
Greece nearly scored themselves in the 37th minute but Dimitris Salpingidis flick at the back post was denied by a big Keylor Navas save for Costa Rica.
Despite Greece having the better of chances in the first half it was Costa Rica that got on the scoreboard to start the second half on a bizarre play. Bolanos' slow cross found captain Bryan Ruiz at the top of the Greek penalty area. Ruiz one-time shot was slow and trickling along the ground, but it appeared to freeze Orestis Karnezis in the Greek goal. Karnezis appeared to have plenty of time to get to the ball but didn't move in net and Costa Rica took the 1-0 lead.
No complaints from Costa Rica who likely should have doubled the scoreline two minutes later. A long ball in to the Greek penalty area was only taken from Bolanos by an outstretched arm of Vasilis Torosidis. The handball infraction went missed by the referee though and play went on.
Costa Rica could have used the extra goal as the half went on. Did well to shut down all Greece attacks until the 66th minute. Having already picked up a yellow card in the first half, Oscar Duarte made a poor challenge on Jose Holebas of Greece. The foul earned him his second yellow card and a trip to the showers with 25 minutes to play in the game.
Down a man, it appeared as if Costa Rica might be able to escape in regulation time with the help of some desperate defending and clearances in their own end. But Greece kept the pressure up and just like their last group game against Ivory Coast, found the goal they needed at the last. Kostas Mitroglou fired a shot from close range in the first minute of injury time which Navas saved but spilled directly out front of goal. Up from defence to pressure, Sokratis Papastathopoulos rifled home the rebound to give Greece the tie game and force and extra period of play.
It was all Greece from that point forward. Mitroglou flicked a header towards goal that Navas was barely able to clear. Mitroglou found another chance at the end of extra time but Navas was able to get a piece from in close and direct it wide of goal, to force the game in to penalty kicks.
Bizarre moment prior to penalty kicks as Greece coach Fernando Santos was seen arguing with the referee and was sent off before the penalties could start. Hard to tell what impact that may have had on Greece not having their manager there for penalty taker selection.
A mostly academic display of shooting to start the penalties. Shooting first, Costa Rica hit their first four penalties while Greece responded hitting their first three shots. Greece's fourth shot was the decider though. Veteran substitute Theofanis Gekas' shot was turned away by an excellent dive from Navas who guessed direction correctly and was able to get an arm on the ball. Michael Umana's followup scored to give Costa Rica the 5-3 win in the shootout.
Tough loss for Greece who had the advantage in chances and possession after Duarte's sending off. Costa Rica meanwhile will make their first ever quarterfinal appearance next weekend when they take on Netherlands.
Goals
Costa Rica: Bryan Ruiz (52')
Greece: Sokratis Papastathopoulos (90+1')
Penalty Kicks:
- Celso Borges (CRC) SCORES.
- Kostas Mitroglou (GRE) SCORES.
- Bryan Ruiz (CRC) SCORES.
- Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (GRE) SCORES.
- Giancarlo Gonzalez (CRC) SCORES.
- Jose Holebas (GRE) SCORES.
- Joel Campbell (CRC) SCORES.
- Theofanis Gekas (GRE) SAVED.
- Michael Umana (CRC) SCORES.
Discipline
Costa Rica: Oscar Duarte (Yellow 42', Yellow 66', Red 66'), Yeltsin Tejeda (Yellow 48'), Esteban Granados (Yellow 54'), Bryan Ruiz (Yellow 70'), Keylor Navas (Yellow 90')
Greece: Andreas Samaris (Yellow 36'), Kostas Manolas (Yellow 72')
Man of the Match
Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas was again named Man of the Match. Navas made 7 saves as well as a key stop on Gekas in the shootout to earn the victory for Costa Rica. Navas was the rock at the back for Costa Rica, holding them in the game despite spending half the game down a man after Duarte's sending off.
Key Moment
Came right down to the wire in the shootout. After 7 straight goals to start the shootout, Theofanis Gekas stepped up for Greece. His shot was hard to the left of goal but Keylor Navas guessed right and was able to get an arm up to direct it away from goal. That was the only break required for Costa Rica, as Michael Umana converted the following shot to give Costa Rica the win.
What we learned from Costa Rica
Tough to analyze given they spent the last 55 minutes of the game down a man. Felt that before that they were the definite better team on the field. Kept Greece outside of their penalty area and maximized their own chances of scoring. Far too passive in the midfield though and allowed Greece plenty of room to advance the ball up the field. Will have to be more aggressive against Netherlands in the quarterfinals and will be without 2 starters in that game.
What we learned from Greece
Not much that wasn't already known. Had one lapse defensively that cost them in the early second half. Only got quality offensive chances after Costa Rica went down a man and still had no quality finishing. Have to find a way to better attack the opposing goal going forward as their current strategy has been figured out.
Greece are headed home after their first knockout round appearance ever. Costa Rica meanwhile advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in history. They'll be in tough against a Dutch team that has averaged 3 goals for a game so far in this World Cup.
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