AL-RAYYAN: Costa Rica recovered from a hammering 0-7 defeat against Spain to edge Japan 1-0 in their second group match to stay alive in the Round of 16 qualification race of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022.
Keysher Fuller scored in the 81st minute to lift Costa Rica to a 1-0 victory over Japan, leaving both teams with three points after two games in Group E of the World Cup.
Fuller, who took advantage of a defensive error when Japan failed to clear in it end and hit the net from 18 meters just off the fingertips of leaping Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda.
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 wrapped 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.
Earlier, Japan surprised Germany with 2-1 upset, while Costa Rica was routed 7-0 by Spain in the most lopsided game so far of this year’s World Cup. The seven goals allowed by Costa Rica were as many as the team had allowed in its previous eight World Cup matches dating to 2014. The team also failed to take a single shot against Spain, marking only the second time since 1966 a squad did not have an attempt on goal. That team? Costa Rica against Brazil in 1990.
