- Los Ticos defeated Paraguay 2-1 to conclude the Group Stage.
- Colombia and Brazil drew 1-1 in the other Group D match, which saw Colombia win the group and Brazil qualify for the knockouts.
Highlights
- It couldn’t have been a better start for Los Ticos as Calvo scored early thanks to an assist from Mora.
- Then it was dreamland for Los Ticos when just minutes later, Alcocer bagged his second international goal to put Costa Rica up 2-0.
- Julio Enciso did a good job of getting on the ball for Paraguay and in the 55’ Ramon Sosa broke through with a wonderful goal.
- In the 93’, Seguia makes an incredible save at point blank range off a Paraguayan corner to secure the victory for Costa Rica.
Match summary
Tuesday night’s Group Stage final between Paraguay and Costa Rica was played at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, but for the first 10 minutes, it may as well have been dreamland from Los Ticos.
Just three minutes into the game, Costa Rican center back, Francisco Calvo, marauded up to join the attack and was rewarded with a peach of a cross from Joseph Mora. Los Ticos’ captain made no mistake in dispatching the cross into the back of the net and just like that Costa Rica was up 1-0.
Then just four minutes later, it was Josimar Alcocer’s turn to score. The 19-year-old scored his second ever international goal for his country off a great assist from Jefferson Brenes to put Los Ticos up 2-0 after just seven minutes of play. The offensive game plan that Costa Rica had made before the match was being executed to perfection. The only chance Costa Rica had to qualify for the Quarterfinals was to win their match, have Brazil lose to Colombia, and then match up the goal difference, a difficult ask considering Brazil’s was +3 while Costa Rica’s was -3.
Still, the Concacaf team showed plenty of determination to not let the low odds deter their play. For Paraguay, they finally settled into the game after the first two goals and were able to limit the chances Costa Rica was creating. Additionally, young star Julio Anciso looked extremely bright, getting on the ball often and being the heartbeat of every positive moment Paraguay created. After 45 minutes in Austin Texas, the score was 2-0 Costa Rica.
Paraguay wouldn't go away quietly though. Ten minutes into the second half, Ramon Sosa scored a stunning curling strike from the top of the box to halve the deficit La Albirroja. Sosa continued to be impressive in the second half, and seemed the most likely to score again.
The best chance for an equalizer came in the 90+3’ of stoppage time following a gorgeous corner kick from Paraguayan substitute Kaku. The Costa Rican goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira had to make a point-blank save to deny Angel Romero whose foot met Kaku’s cross right in front of goal. Sequeira’s heroics ensured Costa Rica would leave CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™ with a win, even if it wasn’t enough to qualify for the next round.
What’s next?
Both Paraguay and Costa Rica journey's at this year's tournament ended following the end of the Group Stage.
Lineups:
Costa Rica: Sequeira; Calvo, Vargas, Mitchell; Taylor, Brenes, Galo, Mora; Alcocer, Madrigal; Campbell
Used substitutes: Aguilera, Zamora, Contreras, Bran, Cascante
Cards: Alcocer (Yellow), Galo (Yellow), Contreras (Yellow)
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Paraguay: Morinigo; Gimenez, Alderete, Balbuena, Velazquez; Bobadilla, Villasanti; Sosa, Enciso, Almiron; Bareiro
Used substitutes: Caballero, Romero, Ramirez, Kaku, Gonzalez
Cards: Alderete (Yellow), Almiron (Yellow), Sosa (Yellow)
Coach: Daniel Garnero
Goals: 3’, Francisco Calvo (CR), 7’, Josimar Alcocer (CR), 55’ Ramon Sosa (P)
Superior Player of the Match Michelob ULTRA: Josimar Alcocer (Costa Rica)
Referee: Yael Falcón Pérez (Argentina)
Venue: Q2 Stadium - Austin, Texas (USA)
Watch the goals and match highlights from Costa Rica 2-1 Paraguay
