Costa Rica beat Japan 1-0 in a match valid for Group E
THE
REPORT A goal by Fuller in the 81st minute decided the match
FIFA World Cup 2022 - Group E Japan vs Costa Rica
Win the lottery and then throw away the ticket before cashing out.
It's a bit like what Japan did in the second match of its World Cup, losing 1-0 with Costa Rica in the surprise victory against battleship Germany which had placed it in a privileged position to reach the round of 16.
A result that few would have predicted on the eve, especially after the disastrous performance of the Central Americans against Spain.
Now the Asians will need a new feat, but against Spain, to avoid elimination, while Costa Rica can celebrate Fuller's late goal, almost in the only shot on target of their match, which lifts the pride of the whole country.
The coach of the Blue Samurai, Hajime Moriyasu, warned on the eve that the
FIFA World Cup 2022 - Group E Japan vs Costa Rica
Among the starters he fielded forwards Doan, Soma and Ueda, right-back Yamane, inserted in place of the injured Sakai, and midfielder Morita for Tanaka.
However, his Suarez counterpart avoided making radical changes, leaving only teenage winger Bennette and defender Martinez on the bench, adding Torres and 34-year-old center back Waston to a squad that included four players from the 2014 Brazil quarter-finals. choices proved Moriyasu wrong: the new entrants were the protagonists of a mediocre performance in the first half, with many mistakes against a wait-and-see opponent well grouped in defence.
FIFA World Cup 2022 - Group E Japan vs Costa Rica
Moriyasu made some changes at the start of the second half, but almost nothing changed on the pitch: few ideas, zero chances against a team that was only careful not to take another board and which, instead, caught the joker in the 36th minute of the second half. when Fuller with a shot from outside the box beat Gonda in Costa Rica's only shot on target.
Another large part of the credit, among the Ticos, goes to team leader, goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who saved his goal with two great saves, one in each half.
Costa Rica had not won at the World Cup since 2014, when they even reached the quarter-finals in Brazil.
While waiting for the big match between Spain and Germany, the Iberians, Japan and Costa Rica are all on three points, a situation that offers a lifeline to the German national team even in the event of a draw with the Red Furies.
