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29 March 2024

Fifa World Cup Round of 16: Costa Rica beat Greece on penalties

Published
By Agencies

Costa Rica secured a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Sunday after beating Greece 5-3 on penalties after the teams finished level at 1-1 after extra time, the Central Americans playing for almost an hour with 10 men.

Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas dived to superbly save Theofanis Gekas's fourth penalty for the Greeks, leaving Michael Umana to stroke home the decisive kick.

After a dire first half the game came to life in the 52nd minute when an unmarked Bryan Ruiz placed a low sidefooted shot beyond Greek keeper Orestis Karnezis and into the corner, but Costa Rica then had defender Oscar Duarte sent off for a second booking in the 66th minute.

Greece, who made it into the last 16 after an injury-time winner against Ivory Coast, again struck in added time when Gekas unleashed a shot that Navas parried straight into the path of Sokratis Papasthathopoulos who gleefully rammed into an empty net.

Greece almost snatched a 2-1 win moments later when Kostas Mitroglou had a header tipped over but though they had the best of extra time they were unable to press home their advantage and paid the price in their first shootout.

Costa Rica and Greece finished 1-1 after extra time in their World Cup last 16 game in Recife on Sunday, forcing the clash to be decided on penalties.

Ten-man Costa Rica and Greece were level at 1-1 after 90 minutes in their World Cup last 16 match on Sunday, taking the game into extra time.

Bryan Ruiz scored after 52 minutes for Costa Rica, who then had Oscar Duarte sent off for a second yellow card.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos equalised for the Greeks in the second minute of injury time.

HALF-TIME
 
Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas once again impressed with a fine save late in the first half to keep Greece at bay in a largely dour and goalless opening 45 minutes in their World Cup last-16 clash on Sunday.

Navas stuck out a leg to deny Dimitris Salpingidis from close range following a teasing cross by Jose Holebas.

Otherwise there were few goalmouth incidents of note with winger Christian Bolanos wasting a good early shooting chance for unexpected Group D winners Costa Rica.

BOLANOS BACK

Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto restored winger Christian Bolanos to the Ticos starting lineup to face Greece in their World Cup last 16 clash on Sunday.

With his team already qualified, Bolanos was replaced by Randall Brenes for the final Group D game against England, although he did come on as a second-half substitute as the Costa Ricans secured the point they needed to win the group.

Greece attacking midfielder Pangiotis Kone has not recovered from a muscle injury sustained in the final group game against Ivory Coast and was replaced by Andreas Samaris, who scored the opening goal against the Ivorians after replacing Kone.

The winners will play Netherlands in the quarter-finals.

TEAMS

Teams for Sunday's 2014 World Cup Round of 16 match between Costa Rica and Greece at the Pernambuco arena, Recife.

Costa Rica: 1-Keylor Navas; 16-Cristian Gamboa, 4-Michael Umana, 3-Giancarlo Gonzalez, 6-Oscar Duarte, 15-Junior Diaz; 7-Christian Bolanos, 17-Yeltsin Tejeda, 5-Celso Borges; 10-Bryan Ruiz; 9-Joel Campbell

Substitutes: 2-Johnny Acosta, 8-Heiner Mora, 11-Michael Barrantes, 12-Waylon Francis, 13-Oscar Esteban Granados, 14-Randall Brenes, 18-Patrick Pemberton, 19-Roy Miller, 20-Diego Calvo, 21-Marco Urena, 22-Jose Miguel Cubero, 23-Daniel Cambronero

Greece: 1-Orestis Karnezis; 15-Vassilis Torosidis, 19-Sokratis Papasthathopoulos, 4-Kostas Manolas, 20-Jose Holebas; 10-Giorgos Karagounis, 2-Yannis Maniatis, 16-Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, 22-Andreas Samaris; 14-Dimitris Salpingidis, 7-Giorgos Samaras

Substitutes: 3-Giorgios Tzavellas, 5-Vangelis Moras, 6-Alexandros Tziolis, 8-Panagiotis Kone, 9-Kostas Mitroglou, 11-Loukas Vyntra, 12-Panaglotis Glykos, 13-Stefanos Kapino, 17-Theofanis Gekas, 18-Giannis Fetfatzidis, 21-Kostas Katsouranis, 23-Panagiotis Tachtsidis

Referee: Benjamin Williams (Australia)