Just seconds away from taking the game into a shootout, a stunning yellow card against Costa Rica brought about the one and only penalty kick needed to send the Ticos home from the Gold Cup.
After Costa Rica's third straight draw, the perennial favorites to win Group B coming into the regional tournament finish in second place behind Jamaica. On Sunday, they will face the runner-up of Group C.
It was almost a black cat sign for the defense when a fan ran onto the field to take a selfie with Alvarado in goal. Just minutes later Alvarado stood stunned as Corea's goal slipped the rug on Costa Rica's lead.
The latest stagnant performance puts La Sele under some immediate pressure to find its first win since last October if it is to escape from Group B and advance to the tournament's knockout rounds.
A Costa Rican side that boasted a stingy defense in that miraculous World Cup performance has been unrecognizable ever since, and mounting injuries force a new group of players into the spotlight at the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) championships.
The decisive goal was scored by Falcao during the first minute of the nerve-wracking match's second half, when the Colombians' aggressive tactics made it impossible for a timid La Sele to recover.
The acting president of the Costa Rican Football Federation (FEDEFUTBOL), Jorge Hidalgo described the news of Eduardo Li’s arrest as shocking, and “like the Turrialba Volcano finally erupted on all of us.”
