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Costa Rica's national team failed to beat Ecuador and lost hope of reaching the second stage of the World Cup. The Ecuadorians who controlled the game from start to finish did not face much resistance from their opponents and convincingly defeated the Costa Rican team. After this match, it became clear that from Group A, Germany and the winners of this match from the Ecuadorian team will advance to the World Cup quarterfinals.
Hamburg - "AOL Arena" stadium Referee: Codjia Coffi (Benin) Ecuador 3 - 0 Costa Rica
8' [1 - 0] Carlos Tenorio 54' [2 - 0] Agustin Delgado 90+2' [3 - 0] Ivan Kaviedes
Ecuador: Mora, De la Cruz, Reasco, Espinoza (68‘ Guagua), Hurtado, Castillo, Valencia (73‘ Urrutia), Tenorio, Mendez, Tenorio (45‘ Kaviedes), Delgado.
Costa Rica: Porras, Gonzalez (56‘ Hernandez), Umana, Wallace, Marin, Fonseca (29‘ Saborio), Centeno (84’ Bernard), Solis, Sequeira, Wanchope, Gomez.
The Costa Rican team looked uninspired throughout the match, and although after losing to the Germans their game gave some hope, this time the Central American representatives were clearly weaker than their South American opponents. Ecuadorian attackers Agustin Delgado and Carlos Tenorio terrorized their defense and each scored a goal. The third goal was scored by substitute Ivan Kaviedes.
During the initial moments of the game, both teams failed to create any significant chances, but in the 8th minute, after a beautiful combination, Tenorio headed the ball past goalkeeper Jose Porras into the net.
As Ecuador scored, the game lost its excitement. For about 20 minutes, neither team created any dangerous opportunities. Costa Rica controlled possession but never tested the Ecuadorian goalkeeper. On the other hand, the Ecuadorians tried their luck with long-range shots.
Later on, the Ecuadorian team gradually took control. Edison Mendez and Segundo Castillo's long-range efforts were blocked by Costa Rican defenders. Seeing the opponent's dominance on the field and the inability of his players to create anything substantial, the Costa Rican coach brought on a third forward, Alvaro Saborio, who injected some life into the game.
After a rather dull 40 minutes, both teams had chances just before the end of the first half. After a pass from the Ecuadorian Valencia, the ball deflected off defender Luis Marin's head, but a good reaction from Costa Rica's goalkeeper prevented a goal.
Just before the end of the first half, Costa Rica's players Douglas Sequeira and Delgado had opportunities to score, but they failed to capitalize.
It seems that during the break, the Costa Rican coach instructed his players to play faster, and at the beginning of the second half, forward Ronald Gomez had a shot just wide of the goal. However, the improvement in Costa Rica's game was short-lived.
Ecuador's striker Agustin Delgado, who caused trouble for the opponents' defenders throughout the game, doubled his team's lead. After a pass from Mendez, the striker entered the penalty area and scored his second goal of the tournament with a strong shot.
Costa Rica immediately tried to attack after conceding the goal, and Solis tried to reduce the deficit from the center of the field, but Ecuador's goalkeeper Mora was unbeatable.
With 20 minutes remaining in the match, substitute Ivan Kaviedes once again beat Ecuador's goalkeeper Jose Porras. Despite the efforts of Costa Rica's players to attack, they did not trouble the opposition goalkeeper.
At the end of the match, Saborio almost scored a consolation goal, but once again Costa Rica was unsuccessful. The ball hit the crossbar, and the Central American representatives left the field defeated with a dry result.
This victory for Ecuador means that they and the Germans will advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup, while Costa Rica and Poland will go home after their match. The winner of the group will be determined in the next match between Germany and Ecuador. The latter only need a draw to secure the top spot in the group.
