Japan missed a golden opportunity to confirm their place in the last 16 of the World Cup after suffering a surprise defeat to Costa Rica at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. Coming into the game on a high following their win over Germany, the Asian side were caught out by a late goal by Keysher Fuller as Costa Rica looked far more assured than their 7-0 thrashing by Spain.
Costa Rica snatch all three points in a shock 1-0 win over Japan – scoring with their first and only shot on target so far at the 2022 World Cup.
Costa Rica worked very well without the ball in the first half, the Central American side had clearly learned from their mistakes against Spain and were a lot more aggressive and quicker to pick up loose balls as well as making several terrific tackles. The issue was that when they had the ball they didn’t really know what to do with it.
Japan tried but failed to get a passing rhythm going, with Costa Rica’s shape making it difficult for the Asian side to play through the lines.
The first half passed by without a shot on target for either side and a plethora of fouls and misplaced passes.
Hajime Moriyasu made two changes at half-time and Japan greatly improved, having two shots on target within quick succession in the first two minutes of the second period.
As the game went on Japan committed more and more bodies up the field and started to get on the ball and dictate proceedings, showing much better invention on the ball to try and play through Costa Rica.
Costa Rica really struggled to get up the pitch as Japan increased their intensity, but 10 minutes from time Keysher Fuller found space to bend one in against the run of play with Costa Rica’s first shot on target of the World Cup! The Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda did not cover himself in glory, he was far off his line and despite getting two hands on the effort he could not keep it out.
Japan pushed forward in search of an equaliser but could not break the Costa Rica defence down and the game ended 1-0. A result which has blown Group E wide open!
