MATCH RESULT:
It is Costa Rica who will meet the Netherlands in Salvador on Sunday morning following a victory against Greece, 5-3 on pentalties.
In the end it was Michael Umana who scored the winning penalty, but what a game for goalkeeper Keylor Navas. His night was punctuated by a superb spot save from Gekas.
Greece distraught, and they exit this World Cup. They will rue not making their man advantage pay in extra time, following Sokratis Papastathopoulos’ equaliser in normal time.
FINAL SCORE:
Costa Rica 1
Greece 1
Costa Rica win the penalty shootout 5-3
MATCH PREVIEW:
It’s the knockout tie few would have bargained for pre-tournament, but in the battle of World Cup underdogs, Costa Rica and Greece will both aim to create their own slice of history at Recife. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 6:00am AEST.
On paper, this is the easiest of all the Round of 16 games. However plausible it was for the sturdy Greeks to escape Group C, very few would have dare imagined Costa Rica bettering the likes of Uruguay, Italy and England (all now having exited the World Cup) to top Group D and earn this position. But it is Los Ticos who will start as favourites in a battle where both teams aim to reach echelons of the World Cup they have yet to reach.
By progressing, Costa Rica have already matched their Round of 16 participation in 1990. To have done so by overcoming Uruguay and Italy, and stalemating England in a dead rubber speaks highly not only of a unified approach, but how underestimated Costa Rica’s players have been this tournament. Captain Bryan Ruiz is the obvious linchpin, having scored the crucial goal to beat the Italians.
But rising star Joel Campbell has proven another useful outlet, proving that Costa Rica have a sufficient goal threat to match their solid defence. Having only conceded once, that being from the penalty spot, in their three games, the central pairing of Oscar Duarte and Michael Umana will fancy their chances of keeping another clean sheet against Greece.
Giorgos Karagounis and Kostas Katsouranis will enter Monday’s game hoping to emulate any déjà vu they may have about the occasion. It is hard to believe Greece’s greatest footballing moment at Euro 2004 is now nearly a decade old. As the lone two who continue to this day, both Karagounis and Katsouranis will be aware this tie represents their easiest challenge to not only make the quarter-finals, but also build another title tilt that can again captivate the football world.
Having only progressed on the back of Giorgos Samaras’ controversial penalty against Cote d’Ivoire, Greece will be relying on their traditional stubbornness and their young centre back pairing of Manolas and Papastathopoulos to propel their hopes towards the next round. Coach Fernando Santos can count on a team that has the sheer bloody mindedness to play the full 90 minutes and beyond, which is a highly-valued attribute at the pressure end of the tournament.
In what is the hardest game to pick in the Round of 16, Costa Rica deserve favouritism on the back of their giant killing ways in Group D. However, never can Greece imagine such a golden opportunity to emulate glory from 10 years back.
8:59am
Vas Venkatramani said | 8:59am | ! Report
FULLTIME: What a game for everyone tonight, after the thriller in Fortaleza between Netherlands and Mexico!
It is Costa Rica who will meet Netherlands, and that will be on Sunday morning. I’ll be back on deck for the Round of 16 meeting between Argentina and Switzerland on Wednesday morning at 2am. Until then, it has been a thriller at Recife. It ended with Costa Rica 1-1 Greece, and that Costa Rica won the penalty shootout 5-3
8:57am
Vas Venkatramani said | 8:57am | ! Report
FULLTIME: It is Costa Rica who will meet the Netherlands in Salvador on Sunday morning! In the end it was Michael Umana who scored the winning penalty, but what a game for goalkeeper Keylor Navas. His night was punctuated by a superb spot save from Gekas.
Greece distraught, and they exit this World Cup. They will rue not making their man advantage pay in extra time, following Sokratis Papastathopoulos’ equaliser in normal time! But tongiht is about Costa Rica!
FULLTIME: COSTA RICA 1 (5) – 1 (3) GREECE
8:55am
Mister Football said | 8:55am | ! Report
yes!!!!!!!!
9:06am
RBBAnonymous said | 9:06am | ! Report
Justice.
9:51am
Tactician said | 9:51am | ! Report
Oh well RBB I guess your wish came true. What you could also call justice is Greece making the Ro16 for the first time in their history,
A lot more than I can say for other alleged big European teams. Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, Croatia I’m looking at you.
And after a QF showing in the euros 2 years ago there’s no need to rub in 2004 for you. I guess Greece maintaining a world rank within the top 12 for the past decade should be enough to annoy you that little bit more 🙂 and the fact that after this WC Greece will once again outrank England and probably Italy, but I suspect that’s where your deep seated hate/envy is emanating from.
At least now i can hear the end of your trolling. Dutch will demolish ticos. Will be nice to watch. I wait for you to chime in on that one 😉
12:52pm
Ginger71 said | 12:52pm | ! Report
agree. I dont know what direction the referees were looking when the greece defender handled the ball in the box. It shouldnt have got as far as extra time and penalties. Not to mention the dodgy penalty that got them to the R16. Glad Costa Rica won.
10:16am
c said | 10:16am | ! Report
no!!!!!!!!
8:55am
Vas Venkatramani said | 8:55am | ! Report
The man who will front up is Michael Umana.
UMANA (CRC) PENALTY: SCORED
COSTA RICA INTO THE QUARTER FINALS!!!
CRC 4-3
8:54am
Mister Football said | 8:54am | ! Report
It had to be Gekas!
9:07am
RBBAnonymous said | 9:07am | ! Report
It wasnt a bad penalty either. Just a top save.
10:37am
Old 10 said | 10:37am | ! Report
Was a top save. But did he go early – just wondering????? So much other drama, I wouldn’t have been surprised if linesman called it. Reminded me of a double no goal by keeper in a us club game seen recently.
11:34am
Scuba said | 11:34am | ! Report
Not saying you’re wrong, but it also happened in the Brazil / Chile shootout – would take a very brave ref/linesman to pull it back.
8:54am
Vas Venkatramani said | 8:54am | ! Report
GEKAS (GRE) PENALTY: SAVED!!!
NAVAS! Costa Rica MATCH POINT! WHAT A SAVE BY NAVAS!!!
CRC 4-3 GRE
8:53am
Vas Venkatramani said | 8:53am | ! Report
CAMPBELL (CRC) PENALTY: SCORED
So cheeky! BUt it’s effective. Campbell tucks it away.
CRC 4-3 GRE
8:52am
Vas Venkatramani said | 8:52am | ! Report
HOLEBAS (GRE) PENALTY: SCORED
It’s impeccable, and it’s so calm. Greece level again. Who will blink?
CRC 3-3 GRE
8:51am
Vas Venkatramani said | 8:51am | ! Report
GONZALEZ (CRC) PENALTY: SCORED
Goalkeeper guessed right, but it beat him for pace. Great penalty taking!
CRC 3-2 GRE
8:51am
Vas Venkatramani said | 8:51am | ! Report
CHRISTODOULOPOULOS (GRE) PENALTY: SCORED
Another superbly taken shot, it’s calmly put away.
CRC 2-2 GRE