A solo goal from Joel Campbell in the play-off opener against New Zealand gave Costa Rica qualification for 2022 Qatar, the sixth World Cup in its history, in a game where Costa Rica were struggling to hold on for victory.
With a 3rd-minute advantage at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Costa Rica managed to defend the advantage with the support of their central defenders and their star goalkeeper Keylor Nawaz, who responded when needed. The Central American team will be the last guest for Qatar in 2022.
Costa Rica has been drawn in Group E along with Spain, Germany and Japan at the World Cup.
Costa Rica opened the scoring in the 3rd minute when Campbell deflected the ball with a delicate touch against young Jewison Bennett’s cross from the left wing.
It was Ticos’ only clear move of the entire game, but it was enough to punch their ticket to Qatar.
Away from directing the flow of play in Costa Rica’s favor, New Zealand sparked a reaction that controlled proceedings throughout the first half and suffocated Ticos’ exits with its pressure and cut off its key men.
New Zealand owned the match on its wings and crosses to English Newcastle’s lanky striker Chris Wood, who won most of the balls thrown to his feet or head.
Wood forced goalkeeper Keylor Navas into a double save and brought down both balls that his teammates headed wide.
The most controversial play of the match occurred in the 39th minute when Emirati referee Mohammed Abdullah went to the video referee (VAR) to disallow Wood’s goal for a foul on Costa Rican defender Oscar Duarte by New Zealand striker Matthew Corbett.
Costa Rica’s coach, Colombian Luis Fernando Suarez, bolstered the defense with Kendall Waston in the second half and switched to a 5-on-4 line to contain Wood’s aerial game, which did the most damage to the team. Central American in the first half.
New Zealand continued to dominate the game despite being down a man as recent substitute Costa Barbarousas was sent off in the 69th minute.
Navas dressed as a hero as he made two saves from Wood’s low shot and a shot from Just That threatened to go into the corner.
Digos suffered from the physical exertion of running without the ball for most of the game, while New Zealand kept trying aerial balls in search of Wood, but a high delivery ran into the fists of Navas.
Costa Rica qualified for three consecutive World Cups for the first time.
Qatar 2022 will be the sixth World Cup after Italy 1990, South Korea and Japan 2002, Germany 2006, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.
– Datasheet:
1. Costa Rica: Keylor Navas; Keysher Fuller (Carlos Martinez, m.46), Oscar Duarte, Francisco Calvo, Brian Oviedo; Yeltsin Tejeda, Celso Borges (Daniel Chacón, m.79), Gerson Torres (Bryan Ruiz, m.46); Joel Campbell (Johan Venegas, m.90), Jewison Bennett (Kendall Waston, m.46) and Anthony Contreras.
Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez.
0. New Zealand: Oliver Sayle; Winston Reid (Elijah Just, m.72), Nando Bijneker, Bill Duilima, Liberato Cacas; Joe Bell, Clayton Lewis (Tim Payne, m.90), Matthew Corbett (Ben Wayne, m.60); Niko Kirwan, Alex Greive (Kosta Barbarouses, m.60) and Chris Wood.
Coach: Danny Hay.
Referee: Emirati Mohammed Abdullah. He dismissed the New Zealand barbaros and booked Reed, Ruiz and Contreras.
Goal: 1-0, m.3: Joel Campbell.
Events: The Qatar 2022 World Cup play-off for the last place was held at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in Doha.
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