Costa Rica topples rival Panama 2-1 in World Cup qualifier

It felt like World Cup fever all over again last night as Costa Rica took on Panama! Samara celebrated alongside the rest of the country last night as Costa Rica won this important qualifying game!

“Splashes of water sprang up like waves from the soaked field as the group of white-shirted players slid to one corner in celebration. When La Sele’s players rushed over to embrace Bryan Ruíz after his 65th minute goal gave Costa Rica a 1-0 lead over rival Panama in the World Cup qualifying game, it seemed like all they would need to escape Panama City with a win.

But then, after the splashes crashed back to the field — and the rain continued to pour — a strange chaos followed.

Three minutes after Ruíz’s initial goal, striker Marco Ureña broke away from Panama’s defense and sent a strike into the back of the net to put a battered Costa Rica up 2-0 in the all-important race for first place in Group B of the fourth round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

A team missing more than half of its regular starters suddenly held a comfortable lead on the road. But the Ticos were given almost no time to plan their postgame celebration as Panama responded in the 71st minute with a goal of its own. Less than two minutes later, Panama marched right back to Costa Rica’s goal and shot a clear strike toward the middle of the posts, but veteran goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton dived to make the critical save for his national team.

Upon the deflection, both teams scrambled to regain possession of the slippery ball that was nearly stuck back into the goal by Panama before Costa Rican defender Kendall Watson finally cleared it.”

via Costa Rica topples rival Panama 2-1 in World Cup qualifier