Costa Rica 1 - Italy 0

Photo by Laurence Griffiths

Costa Rica and Italy were battling for the lead in Group D as they took to the pitch in Recife this afternoon. The Ticos showed that they were not looking merely to get a result against the favored Azzurri. Celso Borges missed a header chance from a Costa Rican corner kick, but that was just a precursor of greater things to come. Andrea Pirlo, the Italian midfield maestro, sent a pass from six yards into his own half all the way upfield to Mario Balotelli, who then missed his chip over Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas wide of frame. Balotelli had a shot from twenty-four yards out later on that was saved by Navas. With ten minutes left in the half, Costa Rica took over. Cristian Bolaños was able to convert a tackle by his teammate Michal Umaña into a shot on goal, but Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved his curling effort. Bryan Ruiz nearly provided perfect service to Ticos centerback Oscar Duarte, but Duarte's attempted backward flick-on header sailed just over the Italian crossbar. Costa Rica really should have been awarded a penalty soon thereafter. Italian centerback Giorgio Chiellini missed a catch, allowing Joel Campbell to latch onto the ball in the box. Chiellini was faked out by a Campbell move, but the referee did not punish his foul on Campbell. With one minute left in the first half, Costa Rica made their pressure pay off. Fullback Junior Diaz sent a beautiful ball to the far post where only Ruiz could reach it. Ruiz's header was powered home for the 1-0 lead Costa Rica would take into their locker room.

Italian fullback Matteo Darmian cut in from a run down the flank and beat two defenders, but Navas tipped his shot over the bar. Three minutes after that, Navas had to punch away a Pirlo free kick. From then on, nothing much happened. Italy were caught offsides a few more times on the way to being called for that infraction eleven separate times throughout the match. Marcos Ureña came on as a late substitute for Costa Rica. He manufactured a late one-on-one opportunity, but Chiellini came up with the better of that exchange. Costa Rica were simply spectacular defensively in the second half. The Ticos hold on and win 2-1, advancing to the knockout stages and eliminating England in the process.

Costa Rica IN 6 pts +3
Italy 3 pts 0
Uruguay 3 pts -1
England OUT

Goals
Costa Rica
Bryan Ruiz 44

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