No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveIran Defeats La Sele In Soccer Match

Iran Defeats La Sele In Soccer Match

A late rally by the Costa Rican national soccer team was just enough for them to lose 3-2 against Iran in the non-consequential, World-Cup-warm-up match Wednesday in Tehran, Iran.

Iran’s race in the first half of the game to a 3-0 lead over the Costa Rican team – La Selección Nacional or La Sele for short – had some Tico fans wringing their hands and worrying about their team’s viability in this year’s World Cup, to be held in Germany in June.

Iran seemed to have little trouble getting their first shots off, resulting in a 10th-minute goal by the Iranian Ali Karimi to begin the scoring. That was followed by a second goal less than six minutes later by Ali Daei. Vahid Hashemian made it 3-0 in the 34th minute with a sliding toe-touch after the ball escaped from the prostrate Tico goalie, Alvaro Mesén.

Costa Rican Carlos Hernández managed to fire a shot straight through the middle of Iran’s defense for Costa Rica’s first goal, just one minute before halftime. La Sele returned for a stronger closing half, with a second goal off Danny Fonseca’s bald head in the 60th minute, but the efforts were just not enough.

Costa Rica played in Iran despite calls last week by a legislator and others in Costa Rica to cancel the match because of Iran’s nuclear aspirations and human rights record (TT, Feb. 24, 2005).

Accenting that argument, Iranian women gathered outside the Azadi Stadium, where the game was played, to protest their exclusion, as women were not allowed to inside to watch the match, the Associated Press reported.

 

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s Eyelash Viper Snake Is One of the Most Beautiful

There are at least 141 different species of snakes in Costa Rica. With that large number of species packed into such a tiny nation,...

Costa Rica Surf Film Festival Honors ‘Pura Vida Bodysurfing’ with Top Audience Award

Pura Vida Bodysurfing is an award-winning short film that strips surfing back to its essence—riding waves without a surfboard. Filmed across Costa Rica’s legendary...

Costa Rican Court Orders Release of Migrants Deported Under Trump Deal

A court on Tuesday ordered Costa Rican authorities to release foreign migrants who had been detained in a shelter after being deported under an...

Guatemala Makes History as They Face USA in Gold Cup Semifinal Showdown

Desperate to show progress under Mauricio Pochettino, the United States is looking to secure a return to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Wednesday...

U.S. – Guatemala Security Pact Targets Crime and Helps Returning Migrants

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem signed a border security cooperation agreement with Guatemala on Thursday, which includes the use of drones and...

Costa Rica Green Hotels Lead Global Sustainable Tourism

Costa Rica’s reputation as a leader in sustainable tourism grows stronger every year, with our green hotels setting a high bar for eco-conscious hospitality...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica