27.8 C
Accra
Friday, February 7, 2025
SportsCosta Rica became the last team to qualify for the 2022 World...

Date:

Costa Rica became the last team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with victory over New Zealand.

Costa Rica became the last team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with victory over New Zealand.

In the intercontinental play-off, Costa Rica took a third-minute lead when ex-Arsenal player Joel Campbell shot low into the bottom corner.

The World Cup begins on 21 November with Costa Rica playing 2010 champions Spain in their opener on 23 November.

Ranked 31st in the world, Luis Fernando Suarez’s side go into Group E, which also contains four-time winners Germany and a Japan side who have advanced beyond the group phase in three of the past five tournaments.

Costa Rica have now qualified for the World Cup six times and this will be their third successive appearance.

Their best performance came in 2014 when they reached the quarter-finals, finishing top of a group that included Uruguay, Italy and England, before beating Greece on penalties in the last 16 and losing in a shootout to the Netherlands.

Joel Campbell
Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell scored three times in the Premier League for Arsenal between 2014 and 2016

After finishing fourth in Concacaf qualifying, Costa Rica faced Oceania winners New Zealand with their tie taking place at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

New Zealand, ranked 101st in the world, had a good spell just after conceding the goal, but Alex Greive, Matthew Garbett and Newcastle striker Chris Wood all failed to convert chances from inside the penalty area.

Wood thought he had scored late in the first half when he shot past Paris St-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

However, the referee ruled out the goal after checking the incident on a pitchside monitor following a video assistant referee check – and judged Garbett had fouled Oscar Duarte before crossing for Wood to finish.

A VAR check also led to Barbarouses’ dismissal as the referee changed his original decision from a yellow card to red after seeing the challenge had caught Calvo on the ankle. The 10 men of New Zealand fought until the end, but could not find an equaliser.

Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 – final groups
A – QatarEcuadorSenegalNetherlands
B – EnglandIranUSAWales
C – ArgentinaSaudi ArabiaMexicoPoland
D – FranceAustraliaDenmarkTunisia
E – SpainCosta RicaGermanyJapan
F – BelgiumCanadaMoroccoCroatia
G – BrazilSerbiaSwitzerlandCameroon
H – PortugalGhanaUruguaySouth Korea

Source: BBC

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

Trade flow restored as Ghana Customs clears 1,000 containers in 10 days

Ghana’s trade sector is seeing renewed efficiency after the...

Video: Nana Ama McBrown receives exclusive 24-carat gold pack from Fameye

Rapper Fameye surprised actress and Onua Showtime host, Nana...

Lead galamsey fight – Armah-Kofi Buah charges Chiefs, traditional leaders

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi...

I have asked UG VC to reduce residential facility fees by 25% – Haruna Iddrisu

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has appealed to the University...

Related stories

“I love Santos” – Neymar’s words following return to Santos after 12 years

Brazilian striker Neymar has noted that the experience of...

Police finds body of young player in the sea after night out with teammates

Swiss football club FC Granges-Paccot is mourning the death...

Former Asante Kotoko coach Sabuto passes away

Former Asante Kotoko Coach Prince Acheampong, Known as Sabuto,...