RECIFE, Brazil — Costa Rica followed up its surprise win over Uruguay with another World Cup stunner on Friday, beating four-time champion Italy 1-0 to secure a spot in the next round and eliminate England in the process.
Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz gave his side the lead in the 44th minute, heading in off the underside of the crossbar following a cross from Junior Diaz. Goal-line technology was used to show that the ball bounced down and in after hitting the bar.
There was a frenetic end to the first half, as moments before Ruiz’s goal Costa Rica had a penalty appeal waved away when striker Joel Campbell was bundled over by Giorgio Chiellini.
Costa Rica leads Group D with six points, while Italy and Uruguay have three each before Tuesday’s showdown. England has zero points after losing to Italy and Uruguay.
So after entering the tournament as an expected underdog in a group featuring three former world champions, Costa Rica is now on top.
Costa Rica’s only other appearance in the knockout phase came in its World Cup debut in 1990, when it beat Sweden and Scotland under experienced coach Bora Milutinovic before ultimately getting eliminated by Czechoslovakia.
It was exactly 24 years ago to the day that Costa Rica beat Sweden 2-1 to advance at the tournament in Italy.
For Italy, it marked the fourth consecutive World Cup in which it failed to win its second match.
While it was nowhere near as hot as Italy feared at the Arena Pernambuco — 29 C (84 F) and 70 percent humidity according to FIFA — the Azzurri still struggled to keep up with the speedy Ticos for long stretches.
Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto lined up five defenders but his squad was able advance forward with one swift, sweeping movement — just like in the 3-1 win over Uruguay.
The Azzurri hardly threatened until Mario Balotelli had chances in the 31st and 33rd minutes.
First, Balotelli was set up with a long, vertical pass from Andrea Pirlo and tried to lift the bouncing ball over the charging goalkeeper’s head but missed the target. Then the Azzurri forward had an effort from inside the area stopped by goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
But Costa Rica kept its poise and in the 36th minute Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had to make a diving save to stop a shot from midfielder Christian Bolanos.
In the 43rd, Chiellini made an uncharacteristic error — gifting the ball to Campbell near midfield — and then raced back and committed what appeared to be a clear foul. However, Chilean referee Enrique Osses motioned to play on.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli attempted to stir things up by adding Antonio Cassano, Lorenzo Insigne and Alessio Cerci in the second half, providing the Azzurri with four forwards instead of just Balotelli, but the 2006 winners rarely came close to equalizing.
Appearing frustrated throughout, Balotelli was shown a yellow card in the 69th for taking down Diaz.
Italy’s best chances to equalize were a long, angled shot from Matteo Darmian in the 51st and a free kick from Pirlo in the 53rd that found its way over Costa Rica’s wall — but Navas was waiting and pushed it away.
In added time, Costa Rica substitute Randall Brenes nearly doubled the lead with a free kick that was only slightly off target.
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