Brazil 2-0 Costa Rica: Stoppage Time Surge Wins it for Selecao2 min read

Brazil were headed for yet another disappointing draw, but were saved in the dying moments of the match by two late goals that saw them claim all three points against Costa Rica.

The dramatic winners, which were both scored in stoppage time, may have put a gloss on Brazil’s overall performance, which was again quite pedestrian.

They were all too happy to just maintain a slow passing rhythm in the first half, and generated few chances as a result.

Brazilian manager Tite brought on Douglas Costa for Willian at the start of the second half and immediately the Brazilian attack gained an extra bite.

Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas appeared unbeatable though, saving shot after shot.

Brazil thought they had been awarded a penalty kick when the referee pointed to the spot after Neymar appeared to have been tugged down, but a video review revealed that the PSG man had exaggerated the contact and so play was waved on.

Just a few minutes later, Neymar nearly created a goal out of nothing when he nicked the ball off a Costa Rican defender to put himself through, but his curling effort was inches wide.

Just as it looked like the tournament would have its first scoreless game, Philippe Coutinho came to the rescue for the Selecao.

Gabriel Jesus failed to control a downward header from Roberto Firmino in front of goal, but his loose touch ended up perfectly in the path of the onrushing Coutinho, who poked it past Navas to the send the Brazilian fans in the stadium and back home into raucous delight.

You could almost feel the nation’s collective sigh of relief.

Costa Rica then opened themselves up in search of an equaliser, but were punished by a lethal Brazilian counter-attack.

Douglas Costa flew down the right flank and squared the ball for Neymar, who finished it off to seal the win and become Brazil’s third all-time leading goalscorer.

While we have yet to see it for a full 90 minutes, there were some glimpses of “jogo bonito” flair from Brazil in this match. If they can consistently play the way they did for the last 20 minutes against Costa Rica, they are capable of beating any team in this tournament.

The nature of the late goals flatters Brazil’s overall performance a bit, but on the day they still deserved their victory.

Costa Rica, like Peru and Morocco before them, will feel unlucky to be eliminated after two very close 1-0 losses despite have given a good account of themselves.

They’ll have a chance to claim some consolation points in their final match against Switzerland, while Brazil can now finish top of Group E with a win against Serbia on Wednesday.

Image Source: @FIFAWorldCup on Twitter