For the epilogue of a qualifying campaign that began in June 2019, Costa Rica won the last 32 tickets for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by beating New Zealand 1-0 in the host country on Tuesday.
For their sixth soccer World Cup and the third in a row, the Costa Ricans, led by Colombian Luis Fernando Suarez, joined Germany, Spain and Japan in the Group E statement.
This is a harsh conclusion for Kiwi fruit dominant, but twice hurt by video refereeing (VAR).
The Costa Ricans, 31st in the FIFA rankings, took the lead in the third minute through former Arsenal striker Joel Campbell, who converted their only chance in the first half at the air-conditioned Ahmad ben Stadium. Ali, in Al-Rayyan, who will host seven matches of the first World Cup in an Arab country.
Then, in front of the spectators who more than won in Costa Rica, the New Zealanders, 101st in the world, made the game, with 64% possession of the ball and nine shots, including three on target , in the first stage. .
But, in the 39th minute, Newcastle striker Chris Wood was denied the equalizing goal, after recourse to the VAR, for a foul committed by setter Matthew Garbett.
This was the yellow card made to Kosta Barbarouses, which the VAR changed to red, for a dangerous tackle on Francisco Calvo (69th minute). The Greece -born striker had played just eight minutes before.
Reduced to 10 players, the Kiwi fruit remained offensive until the end, but was never able to fool PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Danny Hay’s staff did not make it to their third World Cup after those who played in 1982 and 2010.
France Media Agency
Source: Radio-Canada
