A more complete goal means the victory of Costa Rica over Japan
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Japan failed to take another step towards the knockout rounds of the World Cup as Keysher Fuller’s late goal earned Costa Rica an emphatic Group E victory.
Following theirs shocking victory over Germany, Japan were frustrated by a tight defensive unit, before Fuller struck with Costa Rica’s first shot on goal of the tournament.
The result leaves both teams on three points after two games, with Spain – who still top the group on goal difference – facing Germany later on Sunday (19:00 GMT).
Spain’s victory will almost guarantee their progression to the last 16.
After beating Germany in their first game, many expected it Japan to give an account of a side of Costa Rica that is torn from a Spain thrashed 7-0.
However, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu opted for rotation over continuity, making five changes, resulting in a soft performance and a scoreline that left the group wide open.
It was a remarkable victory for Costa Rica, who had failed to lay a glove on the Japanese defense before Fuller’s deflected shot from the edge of the box escaped the hands of goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda nine minutes from time.
After a scoreless first half in the scorching heat at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Japan dominated for big moments. However, they struggled to create clear-cut chances until the 88th minute, when Daichi Kamada failed to turn the ball over after a run by Kaoru Mitoma.
Having achieved redemption following their humiliation at the hands of Spain, Costa Rica’s players celebrated emotionally at full-time as Japan were left to rue a disappointing display that could not back up their heroics against Germany
Player of the match
MythKaoru Mitoma
Japan
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Template number9Player NameMyth
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Template number5Player NameNagatomo
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Template number4Player NameItakura
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Template number22Player NameYoshida
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Template number8Player Namedonate
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Template number18Player Nameasana
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Template number6Player NameI go
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Template number15Player NameKamada
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Template number2Player NameYamane
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Template number24Player Namesoma
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Template number10Player NameMine
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Template number21Player NameUeda
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Template number13Player NameMorita
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Template number14Player NameIto
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Template number26Player NameIto
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Template number12Player NameGonda
Costa Rica
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Template number9Player NameBennett
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Template number4Player Namefuller
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Template number1Player NameNavas
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Template number20Player NameAguilera
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Template number17Player Namewoven
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Template number15Player Namebald
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Template number5Player NameBorges
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Template number8Player NameOviedo
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Template number12Player NameCampbell
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Template number19Player NameWaston
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Template number6Player NameDuarte
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Template number7Player Nameyou will counter
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Template number14Player Namehalls
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Template number2Player NameChacon
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Template number13Player NameTowers
alignments
Japan
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Gonda
- 2YamaneBooked at 44 minutesReplaced byMythat 62′minutes
- 4ItakuraBooked at 84 minutes
- 22Yoshida
- 5NagatomoReplaced byItoat 45′minutes
- 6I goBooked 90 minutes
- 13Morita
- 8donateReplaced byItoat 67′minutes
- 15Kamada
- 24somaReplaced byMineat 82′minutes
- 21UedaReplaced byasanaat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Kawashima
- 3Taniguchi
- 7Shibasaki
- 9Myth
- 10Mine
- 11Kubo
- 14Ito
- 16Tomiyasu
- 17Tanaka
- 18asana
- 19H Sakai
- 20Machine
- 23Schmidt
- 25Maeda
- 26Ito
Costa Rica
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Navas
- 6Duarte
- 19Waston
- 15baldBooked 70 minutes away
- 4fuller
- 5BorgesBooked at 61 minutesReplaced byhallsat 89′minutes
- 17woven
- 8Oviedo
- 13TowersReplaced byAguileraat 65′minutes
- 12CampbellReplaced byChaconat 90+5′minutes
- 7you will counterBooked at 41 minutesReplaced byBennettat 65′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Chacon
- 3Vargas
- 9Bennett
- 10Ruiz
- 11Venegas
- 14halls
- 16Martinez
- 18Alvarado
- 20Aguilera
- 21Lopez
- 22Matarrita
- 23drought
- 24Wilson
- 25Hernandez
- 26Zamora
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Assistance:
- 41,479
Live text
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End of game, Japan 0, Costa Rica 1.
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End of second half, Japan 0, Costa Rica 1.
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Junya Ito (Japan) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Bryan Oviedo (Costa Rica).
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Change, Costa Rica. Daniel Chacón replaces Joel Campbell.
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Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Japan).
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Keysher Fuller (Costa Rica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Wataru Endo (Japan) has been shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Wataru Endo (Japan).
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Yeltsin Tejeda (Costa Rica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Change, Costa Rica. Youstin Salas replaces Celso Borges.
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Attempt missed. Daichi Kamada (Japan) right footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the center of the box. Assisted by Takuma Asano.
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Ko Itakura (Japan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Ko Itakura (Japan).
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Jewison Bennette (Costa Rica) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Replacement, Japan. Takumi Minamino replaces Yuki Soma.
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Goal! Japan 0, Costa Rica 1. Keysher Fuller (Costa Rica) left footed shot from the center of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Yeltsin Tejeda.
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Offside, Costa Rica. Brandon Aguilera tries a through ball but Keysher Fuller is in an offside position.
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Corner, Japan. Corner taken by Óscar Duarte.
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Corner, Japan. Corner taken by Keysher Fuller.
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