Don't count out los Ticos.
In a stunning start to its 2014 World Cup campaign, Costa Rica dispatched Uruguay, 3-1. Costa Rica arrived in Brazil as the clear underdog in Group D alongside Uruguay, England and Italy but prevailed on Saturday at Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza thanks a potent mixture of resilience, fearlessness and Joel Campbell.
Uruguay, a semifinalist at the 2010 World Cup, grabbed an early 1-0 lead when striker Edinson Cavani coolly converted a penalty in the 24th minute. Playing without injured striker Luis Suarez, Uruguay would take that slim advantage into the second half. The two-time World Cup champions had never lost a game in the tournament when leading at the half, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
With Campbell taking a leading role, Costa Rica would change that. The 21-year-old striker on loan to Olympiacos from Arsenal scored his first career World Cup goal to pull Costa Rica level in the 54th minute with a one-time, left-footed blast.
(GIF via @FlyByKnite)
Just minutes later, Costa Rica took a shock lead when Oscar Duarte scored on a diving header at the far post following a free kick.
Campbell showed that he is not just a finisher when he set up Costa Rica's third goal with an incisive through ball to Marcos Urena, a late substitute, in the 84th minute.
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