COSTA RICA SPORTS NEWS- In case you missed it or wondered why Costa Rica stood still for 90 minutes last night, Costa Rica’s national fubtol (soccer) team played against Uruguay last night, a nail-biting game that ended in penaty shootout, when Luis Suárez scored an equaliser and was just wide with what could have been a spectacular winner as Uruguay were held to a 3-3 draw by Costa Rica.
The game was a friendly, that is it doesn’t count towards any statistics. But Costa Ricans take their futbol seriously and friendly or not, a win is a win and a loss is not acceptable.
The Costa Ricans, who stunned Uruguay 3-1 in their World Cup opener in Brazil in June, levelled Thursday’s match at the Centenario through substitute Johan Venegas in the final minute.
Alvaro Saborio headed Costa Rica, now coached by former forwardPaulo Wanchope, into the lead five minutes before halftime. Suárez, playing at home for his country for the first time since his ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini, took Cristian Rodríguez’s pass on his chest and turned to fire past Keylor Navas in the 49th minute.
Costa Rica went ahead again within a minute through Bryan Ruiz before Uruguay turned the match around with goals from central defender José Giménez and Edinson Cavani.
Suárez’s shot across the face off goal just missed the target in the 88th minute and Costa Rica, having equalised, won 7-6 on penalties.
Carlos Sánchez, who plays for Argentine league leaders River Plate, had a fine debut for Uruguay on the right wing but coach Óscar Tabárez’s side, always dangerous on the attack, were shaky in defence.
Suárez will miss Uruguay’s next friendly against 2015 Copa America hosts Chile in Santiago on Tuesday, by mutual agreement with Tabárez.
“We all know what Luis means to us but we know we won’t have him at the Copa America so it’s good to look for alternatives to get used to playing without him,” said the Uruguay captain, Diego Godín.
