Costa Rica ties Switzerland 2-2, heads for World Cup exits

At least we scored.

It’s not the silver lining Costa Ricans were hoping for when their 2018 National Team, full of veterans of La Sele’s extraordinary run at the 2014 World Cup, headed to Russia. But that’s how the story ended in today’s final match against Switzerland, played after Costa Rica’s exit from the tournament was already guaranteed by its losses to Serbia and Brazil.

Despite a spirited first half with several shots on goal from Costa Rica (few and far between in the match against Brazil), La Sele ended the first half down by one. Kendall Waston lifted Ticos’ spirits by heading the ball to the back of the net in the 56th minute.

Switzerland tied the game in the 88th minute and Costa Rica seemed headed for a loss until a penalty kick in injury time bounced over the line thanks to Bryan Ruíz, a friendly crossbar and perhaps the sheer force of will of 4.5 million Costa Ricans.

Daniel Solano for The Tico Times