COSTA RICA are closing in on a World Cup place as they lead New Zealand.
Joel Campbell got a deft touch on a cross just three minutes in to put the Tikos ahead.
But the All Whites were arguably hard done by after a Chris Wood goal was ruled out by VAR.
And things got even worse for New Zealand in the second half when the referee gave a red card for Kosta Barbarouses, following a VAR recommendation.
Book the tickets lads, we’re coming
Costa Rica are going to their third-successive World Cup Finals.
31st ranked in the FIFA world ranking, they will join the 31 other teams already qualified for the tournament in Qatar.
The parties will go on late into the night here and back home in Costa Rica.
Credit: Getty All Whites get it all wrong
New Zealand created enough chances to win a game like this three-times over and will feel aggrieved.
They needed to be more clinical in front of goal and paid the price for their missed chances.
Barbarouses’ sending off hampered them hugely and made it easier for Los Ticos to see the game out.
Suarez keeps record going
Luis Fernando Suarez has spoke about what this meant to him:
The word I’ve used most in all these interviews over the last few days is ‘obsession’, a word that’s sometimes frowned upon. I don’t see it like that. There are good obsessions. And my third World Cup is an obsession for me.
Luis Fernando Suarez
Pain for all to see
In these situations there is always going to be a team who it hits hard, defeat that is.
New Zealand and their players will take some time to recover from this.
Having a goal disallowed having thought they had equalised making things all the more worse.
Here’s my number, call me maybe
Joel Campbell will have statues built in his honour in his homeland.
You can see how much it means to these players to reach their third consecutive World Cup Finals.
The early finish by the Costa Rica striker was enough to win it.
Credit: Getty FT: Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
Costa Rica are going to the 2022 World Cup!
Joel Campbell’s early goal wins the game.
The ex-Arsenal player has sent his country to Qatar.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
90+3. Pijnaker heads it towards goal.
The defender has to head clear for a corner.
Navas comes and punches clear, twice.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand – Contreras yellow card
90+2. Ten-men New Zealand need to find a miracle from somewhere.
So little time to find a goal.
Costa Rica come on the counter looking to run the ball into space to run the clock down.
The All Whites win it back and come forward once again.
Yellow card for Contrereas.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
90. Costa Rica take their time over a free kick just outside of the New Zealand penalty area.
Rather than going for goal they look to hold the ball up in the corner.
They may regret it as they lose possession, the All Whites break quickly but Payne runs the ball into touch.
We are going to have four additional minutes.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
88. They will be singing and dancing in the streets in South America if they can hold onto this win.
Joel Campbell back defending and heading the ball clear.
Whenever they can, they slow play down, players falling to the ground with cramp.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand – Wood chance!
86. A lofted ball is played into the back post.
Wood brings it down brilliantly on his chest and skips around the defender.
Just as he is about to pull the trigger he scuffs the shot and it timidly runs through to the keeper.
Credit: Getty Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
84. Costa Rica are starting to make the most of the fact they have a player advantage as the game becomes more stretched.
New Zealand have to through caution to the wind.
Chris Wood finds space in the box all be it a tight angle.
Navas is equal to the effort and saves.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
82. Costa Rica broke there and decided to bring the attack to a complete standstill to run the clock down.
It backfires as New Zealand get numbers behind the ball and win possession back.
This could be end to end stuff for the rest of this game.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
80. Chacón replaces Borges in another change.
We are into the final ten minutes of this playoff final.
The World Cup 2022 awaits this game’s winner.
Stamenic and Payne come on for New Zealand.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand – Lewis chance!
78. Lewis struck a shot towards the top corner from outside of the box.
Navas was equal to it and acrobatically palmed it behind for a corner.
Some keepers do love the dramatic when it comes to saves.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
76. What contrasting emotions fans of both teams will be feeling right now.
Shouting at the screens, hoping to make something happen.
Both sides have worked so hard over a long period to get this chance to book themselves on that plane to Qatar.
Credit: Getty Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
74. Time is rapidly running out for the All Whites.
Costa Rica know game management is key now.
Slow the game down and look to hurt New Zealand on the counter attack as they are forced to push more and more players forward.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
72. Kirwan whips a cross into the box.
Chris Wood meets it with a flying volley.
It goes well over the bar.
Just comes on for Reid.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
70. The yellow card was cancelled and a red card was given.
Barbarouses had only been on the pitch for 8 minutes.
A tough task just got a lot harder for New Zealand.
Winston Reid is shown a yellow card.
Red card – Kosta Barbarouses (New Zealand)
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand – Barbarouses yellow card
68. It is the first yellow card of the game.
The referee has been asked to review the footage by VAR.
Second on-field review of the game.
Credit: Getty
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
66. Costa Rica are struggling to get out of their own half.
New Zealand are pressing high now.
The All Whites need to show more composure on the ball in the attacking third.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
64. The All Whites have a real urgency about their play.
At times it works to their advantage with quick counter-attacks.
Too often it leads to rash play and misplaced passes.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
62. The game is even at the moment.
Chris Wood is fouled and shows his annoyance to the referee.
Span, Germany and Japan await tonight’s winners in the group stage.
Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand
60, Costa Rica are playing a passing game.
Often one loose pass gifts back possession.
Contreras with a shot from distance, no danger for the keeper.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
