The selection of Costa Rica defeated this Wednesday by 2-0 a young squad from Nigeriain a friendly match that served for the Central American team to say goodbye to their fans before embarking on their trip to Qatar World Cup 2022.
With goals from defenders Óscar Duarte and Kendall Waston, the Costa Rican team did their duty before the 35,000 fans who filled the San José National Stadium on a night with a party atmosphere in the stands.
Costa Rica’s coach, Colombian Luis Fernando Suárez, mixed young players with veterans, and regular stars with substitutes, to face a game that served to see options and fine-tune details with a view to the World Cup.
With the absence of the players who play in Europe and other foreign leagues due to the fact that this Wednesday was not an official FIFA date for friendlies, Suárez stopped a solid team in defense and led in attack by a Joel Campbell who always pays to the maximum and that he played the 90 minutes.
After some intense first minutes for Nigeria in which they pressed the exit, Costa Rica found the first goal in the 7th minute in a set piece play that defender Óscar Duarte finished off with pleasure, without a mark, in the small area.
Veteran Bryan Ruiz tried to team up with Joel Campbell, but the most dangerous plays were generated on the wings by young attackers Álvaro Zamora and Anthony Hernández, without posing much risk to Nigerian goalkeeper Kayode Bankole.
Ohaka, a headache for the locals
Nigeria based their attack on the speed of right-back Dominion Ohaka, who was a real headache for the Costa Rican team and came close to leveling the score with a shot from outside the box.
In the second half, Costa Rica controlled the actions better, avoided the fast African counterattacks and approached the rival goal more clearly. In the 73rd minute the lanky defender Kendall Waston made it 2-0 with a header, having missed two similar chances before.
Joel Campbell continued to show that he is Costa Rica’s most important player in attack and generated at least two other dangerous plays, while striker Johan Venegas wasted a clear one against the Nigerian goalkeeper.
Before the start of this match, the president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, swore in the team that will travel on Thursday to Kuwait, where it will be concentrated for a week before moving to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
On November 17, Costa Rica will hold a final rehearsal prior to the World Cup against Iraq, as a visitor.
Costa Rica will debut in the World Cup on November 23 against Spain, then face Japan on the 27th and close the group stage on December 1 against Germany.
DATA SHEET
2 – Costa Rica: Esteban Alvarado, Carlos Martínez, Óscar Duarte (Kendall Waston, m.46), Daniel Chacón, Bryan Oviedo; Douglas López (Youstin Salas, m.77), Roan Wilson (Celso Borges, m.64), Bryan Ruiz (Brandon Aguilera, m.64); Anthony Hernández (Keysher Fuller, m.60), Álvaro Zamora (Johan Venegas, m.77) and Joel Campbell
Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez
0-Nigeria: Kayode Bankole (Nathaniel Nwosu, m.76), Daniel Bayami, Dominion Ohaka, Isaiah Ejeh, Evans Ogbonda; Samson Paul (Jerry Alex, m.59), Qudus Akanni (Suleiman Garba, m.59), Chidibere Nwobodo, Afeez Nosiru; Daniel Wotlai, Evans Ogbonda (Sunday Faleye, d.59) and Edidiong Ezekiel (Samuel Kalu, d.59)
Coach: Salisu Yusuf
Referee: the Mexican Fernando Hernandez. He admonished Nigerians Bayami and Ejeh; and the Costa Rican Fuller
Goals: 1-0, Duarte (m. 7); 2-0, Waston (d. 73)
Incidents: Friendly match played at the San José National Stadium in front of 35,000 fans
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