Saturday 14 June 2014
Uruguay 1 v Costa Rica 3: Uruguay Suffers Shock Defeat
Uruguay conceded three second half goals to suffer a shocking defeat in their opening Group D fixture against Costa Rica despite going ahead in the first half.
Joel Campbell and Oscar Duarte scored within three-minute, before substitute Marco Urena sealed the win in the closing stages to hand the Costa Ricans their first ever win over a South American team.
With star striker, Luis Suarez is still out injured, veteran, Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani peered upfront for the former world champion and the duo of Diego Godin and Diego Lugano both played at centre back.
Costa Rica on the other hand played a defensive formation of 4-5-1 with Arsenal's Joel Campbell the lone man upfront.
Oscar Tabarez's men started the brightest of the two sides, Diego Godin saw his stabbed finish ruled out for offside before Cavani missed a golden opportunity when he volleyed wide from a deflected Diego Forlan free-kick.
The Pressure however paid-off in the 23rd minute when Edinson Cavani Scored from the penalty spot after Junior Diaz hauled down Diego Lugano in the box while defending a Forlan set-piece.
Costa Rica won't be demoralized however as Joel Campbell shot with his left foot from outside the box but his effort went narrowly wide.
Costa Rica goalkeeper, Keylor Navas kept his team in the game by pulling a superb double save late into the first half paring Forlan's arrowed shot wide to concede a corner.
The Costa Rican's came out blazing after the restart. First, Centre back, Oscar Duarte header from the left side of the six yard box was saved in the bottom left corner and the same man shot wide from the same position minutes later.
It was joy afterall for the North America representatives not long after as a cross by Cristian Gamboa from the left side of the Uruguay box fell kindly for Joel Campbell in the box for him to smash a superb left footed half volley into the net leaving Muslera rooted to the spot.
Things soon went from bad to worse for Uruguay, as Duarte was found at the back post by Christian BolaƱos' freekick and he headed in Costa Rica's second goal in just three minutes.
Dangerous pot-shots from Campbell and Bryan Ruiz threatened further damage, yet there was soon a warning flash at the other end Cavani forced a good reactionary stop from Navas.
Hopes of a Uruguay comeback were ultimately extinguished with six minutes remaining as Campbell's wonderful through ball freed Urena, who belied the tight angle by superbly sliding beyond the onrushing Muslera.
Uruguay's woes were compounded in the closing minutes of the game as right full back Maxi Pereira was sent off for hacking down campbell who was impressive through out the encounter
The defeat puts Uruguay in a very poor position and it may be the deciding factor if they did not make it out of the group.
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