Keysher Fuller scored in the 81st minute to lift Costa Rica to a 1-0 victory over Japan on Sunday, leaving both teams with three points after two games in Group E of the World Cup. (More Football News) | (Points Table)
Costa Rica 𓆏r🌠emain alive in the FIFA World Cup 2022 with a narrow 1-0 win over Japan as Keysher Fuller scored the winner in the 81st minute.
Keysher Fuller scored in the 81st minute to lift Costa Rica to a 1-0 victory over Japan on Sunday, leaving both teams with three points after two games in Group E of the World Cup. (More Football News) | (Points Table)
Fuller took advantage of a defensive error when Japan failed to clear the ball and hit the net from 18 meters just off the fingertips of leaping Japan go♌alkeeper Shuichi Gonda.
The match at Ahmad Bin Ali stadium was tactical and largely lackluster, particularly in a first half that did not yield a single shot on goal. The second half was slightly better with Japan pressing throughout until Costa Riღca broke through.
Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas cam🧔e up with several rapid fire saves in the final minutes to ensure the victory.
Japan has one Group E game remaining with Spain, and Costa Rica faces Germany in its final group match. With a victory, Japan could have all but wrapღped up a place in the knockout stage after a 2-1 upset of Germany in its opener. Costa Rica was pounded by Spain 7-0 in its first game and just trying to survive.
Japan had the edge in corners, shots, and 🏅possession ওbut could not find the net.
The first half might have been one of the wo🅰rst of the tour♈nament that has already seen four 0-0 draws. Neither team had a shot on goal in a tactical stalemate.
Ritsu Doan, who scored one of Japan's goals in the 2-1 win over Germany, looked the most tওhreatening early with runs down the right side looking to cut in crosses.
Costa Rica's most menacing player always looked like Joel Campbell, trying to uꦐse his speed on the left flank.
There was more action in the first two minutes after the 🧸♋break than in the entire first half.
Hidemasa Morita tested Navas with a blistering shot in the first minute,🤪 and Takuma Asano forced another save a minute later.
Despite Japan's attacking intent, the late defensive error cost the team, which seemed hea🐼ded for a 🌃draw and a valuable point.
Japan, which is appearing it its seventh straight World Cup, has reached the knockout stage on three occasions, losing each🐓 time in the round of 16. Costa Rica reached the quarterfi💖nals in Brazil in 2014.
Japan may not win the World Cup, but it's winning goodwill with its tradition of cleaning up fan areas and player dressing rooms after the matc🌃h. This dates from Japan's first appearance in the World Cup in 1998. This time Japanese team officials have arrived with 8,000 trꦍash bags with thank-you greetings in Arabia, Japanese, and English.