Costa Rica Come Back from Halftime Deficit, Steamroll Uruguay 3-1

After falling behind at halftime, Costa Rica came back to beat Uruguay 3-1 at the World Cup.

Image via bbc.co.uk

Wow.

In perhaps a great omen for USA fans, fellow CONCACAF members Costa Rica overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit against a much-hyped Uruguay side to roar past their South American foes and earn a resounding 3-1 win in the opening match of Group D.

Uruguay played a cautious first half, one where they looked to dictate the pace and simply wait for Costa Rica to make a mistake. In the 22nd minute, they finally did as Júnior Díaz pulled down Uruguay captain Diego Lugano in the box:

Striker Edinosn Cavani stepped up to the spot and confidently buried the spot kick, thrusting his team into the lead:

Uruguay nearly made it 2-0 just before halftime, as striker Diego Forlan hit a deflected shot from just outside the 18 that looked destined for the top corner. Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, however, made an absolutely spectacular save to keep his team down just one goal:

Navas’ save seemed to buoy Costa Rica’s spirits heading into the second half, and Los Ticos went forward with great vigor and confidence immediately out of the break. After a near-miss on a header in the 50th minute, they were rewarded in the 54th minute when Arsenal man Joel Campbell (who had a tremendous match) settled a cross and leveled home the equalizer:

Uruguay were stunned, and they looked like it. They had been flat-footed on set pieces all night, and they finally got burned in the 57th minute when Costa Rica’s Oscar Duarte got loose on the far post:

There were hints of Luis Suarez coming into the game to try to get Uruguay back into the game, but the recovering striker was ultimately left on the bench. They probably could have used him, though, as a confident Costa Rica squad simply overran the uninspired midfield of Uruguay and dominated that final half hour.

They were rewarded in the 84th minute with a goal that iced the game. Substitute Marcos Ureña, who hadn’t netted an international goal in three years, took a brilliant pass from Campbell and on his first touch slotted it past Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera:

Things went from bad to worse for Uruguay, who in stoppage time watched as veteran defender Maxi Perreira took a red card for this rash and unnecessary challenge:

Costa Rica’s victory puts them in a great position heading into their matches with England and Italy, who meet in less than an hour in the humid rainforest of Manaus. While they are by no means a sure thing to reach the knockout stage, Los Ticos possess the passion and pace to make things very difficult for their opponents.

Uruguay, on the other hand, are in big trouble. This was supposed to be their easiest match, a relative cakewalk in which they could rest Suarez and still emerge with three points. They now need a victory over either England or Italy, plus either a second victory or a draw combined with a lot of help if they hope to advance.

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