No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeSportThe save that sent Costa Rica to the World Cup quarterfinals for...

The save that sent Costa Rica to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time

Keylor Navas sacrificed his body over and over again to keep the Ticos in the match. His steady resilience permitted La Sele to reach penalty kicks when the rest of the team looked exhausted and completely out of sorts. During penalty kicks, the 27-year-old goalkeeper made the greatest save of his life — giving Costa Rica a chance to go to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time ever.

With Costa Rica leading 4-3 on penalties, Navas deflected away a shot by Theofanis Gekas. Then, Michael Umaña — with the weight of the country on his shoulders — smoothly knocked in the goal that eliminated Greece.

The Ticos surpass the feat of the 1990 Costa Rica squad that reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Italy. This La Sele team is officially the best team in the country’s history. Costa Rica will attempt to continue its magical run in Brazil on July 5 against the Netherlands in Salvador.

Photos of fans watching the nail-biter from Costa Rica (Images by The Tico Times photographer Lindsay Fendt)

Trending Now

Panama Union Leader Saúl Méndez Goes into Exile in Bolivia

The leader of Panama’s main union, Saúl Méndez, accused of fraud and money laundering, left for exile in Bolivia this Saturday. He had taken...

Costa Rica Police Uncover Second Cyanide-Laced Mining Operation in Crucitas

The environmental crisis in Crucitas persists. Police discovered and dismantled an artisanal mining material processing plant in a wooded area of Tatú Hill in Crucitas,...

Algal Bloom Detected in Costa Rica’s Gulf of Nicoya

A noticeable change in watercolor has been reported across several zones of the Gulf of Nicoya and coastal areas adjacent to the Nicoya Peninsula....

US Visa Cost Increase for Travelers and Workers Under New Law

United States President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law on July 4, introducing a new surcharge for most non-immigrant US...

UN Experts Warn of Possible Nicaraguan Government Role in Exile’s Murder in Costa Rica

A team of UN human rights experts said Tuesday that involvement by the Nicaraguan government in the killing of retired major Roberto Samcam cannot...

Panama Removed from EU High-Risk List, but Tax Haven Status Remains

The film The Laundromat, starring Meryl Streep, damaged Panama's reputation by drawing inspiration from a real-life story: the global scandal that erupted a decade...
spot_img
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