Match ends, Japan 0, Costa Rica 1.
Japan failed to take another step towards the World Cup knockout rounds as Keysher Fuller's late goal earned Costa Rica a smash-and-grab Group E victory.
Following their shock win over Germany, Japan were frustrated by a tight defensive unit, before Fuller struck with Costa Rica's first shot on target at the tournament.
The result leaves both teams on three points after two games, with Spain - who still top the group on goal difference - facing Germany later on Sunday (19:00 GMT).
Victory for Spain will all but guarantee their progression to the last 16.
After beating Germany in their opener, many expected Japan to account for a Costa Rica side reeling from a 7-0 thrashing by Spain.
However, Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu opted for rotation over continuity, making five changes, and that resulted in a subdued performance and a scoreline that blew the group wide open.
It was a remarkable victory for Costa Rica, who had failed to lay a glove on the Japan defence before Fuller's deflected shot from the edge of the box escaped goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda's grasp nine minutes from time.
After a first half devoid of goalmouth action in the searing heat at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Japan dominated for large spells. However, they struggled to create clear-cut chances until the 88th minute, when Daichi Kamada could not turn the ball home after a driving Kaoru Mitoma run.
Having achieved redemption following their humiliation at the hands of Spain, the Costa Rica players celebrated emotionally at full-time as Japan were left to rue a disappointing display that failed to back up their heroics against Germany.
Player of the match
MitomaKaoru Mitoma
Japan
Avg
- Squad number9Player nameMitomaAverage rating
7.49
- Squad number4Player nameItakuraAverage rating
6.54
- Squad number5Player nameNagatomoAverage rating
6.53
- Squad number22Player nameYoshidaAverage rating
6.52
- Squad number8Player nameDoanAverage rating
6.47
- Squad number18Player nameAsanoAverage rating
6.40
- Squad number6Player nameEndoAverage rating
6.37
- Squad number15Player nameKamadaAverage rating
6.34
- Squad number2Player nameYamaneAverage rating
6.25
- Squad number24Player nameSomaAverage rating
6.16
- Squad number10Player nameMinaminoAverage rating
6.11
- Squad number21Player nameUedaAverage rating
6.02
- Squad number13Player nameMoritaAverage rating
6.02
- Squad number14Player nameItoAverage rating
5.68
- Squad number26Player nameItoAverage rating
5.61
- Squad number12Player nameGondaAverage rating
4.99
Costa Rica
Avg
- Squad number9Player nameBennetteAverage rating
6.71
- Squad number4Player nameFullerAverage rating
6.55
- Squad number1Player nameNavasAverage rating
6.41
- Squad number20Player nameAguileraAverage rating
6.10
- Squad number17Player nameTejedaAverage rating
6.09
- Squad number15Player nameCalvoAverage rating
6.05
- Squad number5Player nameBorgesAverage rating
5.98
- Squad number8Player nameOviedoAverage rating
5.96
- Squad number12Player nameCampbellAverage rating
5.92
- Squad number19Player nameWastonAverage rating
5.89
- Squad number6Player nameDuarteAverage rating
5.85
- Squad number7Player nameContrerasAverage rating
5.83
- Squad number14Player nameSalasAverage rating
5.83
- Squad number2Player nameChacónAverage rating
5.79
- Squad number13Player nameTorresAverage rating
5.48
Line-ups
Japan
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Gonda
- 2YamaneBooked at 44minsSubstituted forMitomaat 62'minutes
- 4ItakuraBooked at 84mins
- 22Yoshida
- 5NagatomoSubstituted forItoat 45'minutes
- 6EndoBooked at 90mins
- 13Morita
- 8DoanSubstituted forItoat 67'minutes
- 15Kamada
- 24SomaSubstituted forMinaminoat 82'minutes
- 21UedaSubstituted forAsanoat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Kawashima
- 3Taniguchi
- 7Shibasaki
- 9Mitoma
- 10Minamino
- 11Kubo
- 14Ito
- 16Tomiyasu
- 17Tanaka
- 18Asano
- 19H Sakai
- 20Machino
- 23Schmidt
- 25Maeda
- 26Ito
Costa Rica
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Navas
- 6Duarte
- 19Waston
- 15CalvoBooked at 70mins
- 4Fuller
- 5BorgesBooked at 61minsSubstituted forSalasat 89'minutes
- 17Tejeda
- 8Oviedo
- 13TorresSubstituted forAguileraat 65'minutes
- 12CampbellSubstituted forChacónat 90+5'minutes
- 7ContrerasBooked at 41minsSubstituted forBennetteat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Chacón
- 3Vargas
- 9Bennette
- 10Ruiz
- 11Venegas
- 14Salas
- 16Martínez
- 18Alvarado
- 20Aguilera
- 21López
- 22Matarrita
- 23Sequeira
- 24Wilson
- 25Hernández
- 26Zamora
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 41,479
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home22
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Japan 0, Costa Rica 1.
Post update
Junya Ito (Japan) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Bryan Oviedo (Costa Rica).
Substitution
Substitution, Costa Rica. Daniel Chacón replaces Joel Campbell.
Post update
Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Japan).
Post update
Keysher Fuller (Costa Rica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Wataru Endo (Japan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Wataru Endo (Japan).
Post update
Yeltsin Tejeda (Costa Rica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Costa Rica. Youstin Salas replaces Celso Borges.
Post update
Attempt saved. Daichi Kamada (Japan) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Takuma Asano.
Booking
Ko Itakura (Japan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Ko Itakura (Japan).
Post update
Jewison Bennette (Costa Rica) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Japan. Takumi Minamino replaces Yuki Soma.
Goal!
Goal! Japan 0, Costa Rica 1. Keysher Fuller (Costa Rica) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Yeltsin Tejeda.
Post update
Offside, Costa Rica. Brandon Aguilera tries a through ball, but Keysher Fuller is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Japan. Conceded by Óscar Duarte.
Post update
Corner, Japan. Conceded by Keysher Fuller.
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Comments
Join the conversation
ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
Passing the ball sideways gets you nowhere.
And almost a crime that Costa Rica came away with all 3 points having put in almost no effort in attack. It wasn't even good defending, just poor in the final third by Japan.
I wish they'd stop the subs running on in their stupid bibs though, it's getting annoying!