Costa Rica 0-1 Serbia: Kolorov Scores Brillant Freekick3 min read

2014 World Cup quarterfinalist Costa Rica played Serbia in their first Group E match with both teams consisting of experienced players at club level.  

First Half

Costa Rica earned their first corner after a dangerous through ball that was overpassed for in the 2^nd minute. Giancarlo Gonzalez headered the ball directly to the keeper’s hands.

The 11^th minute a short corner by Costa Rica gave the ball to a free Gonzalez at the back post but completely missed it. On target, it would have been a goal.  

14^th minute Branislav Ivanovic squared the ball into the box which was pushed away by Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

A long free kick was taken by Dusan Tadic at the 18^th minute which was cleared after Ivanonic tried to header it in.

28^th minute Sergej Milinkovic-Savic shot in front of goal was been ruled offside.

36^th minute Serbia earned a freekick near the corner post and was met with a good punch by Navas.

 A collision by Johnny Acosta and Zoran Tosic paused the game briefly.

A shot from outside the box went wide by Marco Urena for Costa Rica at the 39^th minute.

A great play by Costa Rica led to Calvo taking a shot with his weaker foot that almost went on target at the 42^nd minute.

43^rd minute, Milinkovic-Savic did an audacious overhead kick which went into Navas’ hands but was wrongly ruled as offside. If Savic put a little more power into the ball it would have gone above Navas and into the goal.

Half Time- Costa Rica 0-0 Serbia

Both teams had great chances but could not deliver the end product, but Serbia had most of the possession despite great runs by the home side.

Second Half

Brilliant save by Navas at the 50^th minute when Mitrovic shot after getting past the defence with a through ball by Milinkovic-Savic.

David Guzman received a booking when giving away a freekick to Serbia after cynically fouling Mitrovic.

GOAL – Costa Rica 0-1 Serbia – Aleksandar Kolarov – 56^th minute

Roma full back Kolarov scored a fantastic free kick from his left that went over the wall into the top right corner.

Costa Rica responded but with crosses into the box but none there to receive it.

A freekick earned by substitute Joel Campbell at the 70^th minute was cleared by the Serbian defence.

Nikola Milenkovic tackled Campbell to prevent him from shooting in front of goal in the 73^rd minute.

76^th minute Tadic beautifully picked out Filip Kostic with a cross inside the box but could not control the ball due to a fingertip save by Navas.

The last 10 minutes of normal time and Costa Rica were wasting passes.

Penalty appeal at the 86th minute for Serbia when González slide tackled Mitrovic but was dismissed by the referee.

It was turning ugly in extra time after Nemanja Matic scuffled with the bench because he thought it was his throw on, but it was Costa Rica.

Last chance with a freekick in Costa Rica’s defensive half but it was met with a strong Serbian defence.

Second time VAR has stopped the game in extra time after Aleksander Prijovic hit a defender’s face but only met with a yellow card.

Second Half Ends Costa Rica 0-1 Serbia

Kolarov freekick separates both teams but it seems like Costa Rica did not replicate the same level of play from the first half.