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
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Squad number9Player nameMitomaAverage rating
7.49
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Squad number5Player nameNagatomoAverage rating
6.54
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Squad number4Player nameItakura
Average rating6.54
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Squad number22Player nameYoshida
Average rating6.52
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Squad number8Player nameDoan
Average rating6.47
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Squad number18Player nameAsano
Average rating6.40
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Squad number6Player nameEndo
Average rating6.37
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Squad number15Player nameKamada
Average rating6.34
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Squad number2Player nameYamane
Average rating6.25
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Squad number24Player nameSoma
Average rating6.16
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Squad number10Player nameMinamino
Average rating6.11
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Squad number21Player nameUeda
Average rating6.02
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Squad number13Player nameMorita
Average rating6.02
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Squad number14Player nameIto
Average rating5.68
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Squad number26Player nameIto
Average rating5.61
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Squad number12Player nameGonda
Average rating4.99
Costa Rica
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Squad number9Player nameBennette
Average rating6.71
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Squad number4Player nameFuller
Average rating6.55
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Squad number1Player nameNavas
Average rating6.43
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Squad number20Player nameAguilera
Average rating6.10
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Squad number17Player nameTejeda
Average rating6.09
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Squad number15Player nameCalvo
Average rating6.05
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Squad number5Player nameBorges
Average rating5.98
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Squad number8Player nameOviedo
Average rating5.96
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Squad number12Player nameCampbell
Average rating5.92
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Squad number19Player nameWaston
Average rating5.89
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Squad number6Player nameDuarte
Average rating5.85
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Squad number7Player nameContreras
Average rating5.83
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Squad number14Player nameSalas
Average rating5.83
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Squad number2Player nameChacón
Average rating5.79
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Squad number13Player nameTorres
Average rating5.48
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
Live Text
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Match ends, Japan 0, Costa Rica 1.
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Second Half ends, Japan 0, Costa Rica 1.
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Junya Ito (Japan) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Bryan Oviedo (Costa Rica).
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Substitution, Costa Rica. Daniel Chacón replaces Joel Campbell.
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Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Japan).
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Keysher Fuller (Costa Rica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Wataru Endo (Japan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Wataru Endo (Japan).
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Yeltsin Tejeda (Costa Rica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Costa Rica. Youstin Salas replaces Celso Borges.
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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.
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Ko Itakura (Japan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Ko Itakura (Japan).
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Jewison Bennette (Costa Rica) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, Japan. Takumi Minamino replaces Yuki Soma.
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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.
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Offside, Costa Rica. Brandon Aguilera tries a through ball, but Keysher Fuller is caught offside.
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Corner, Japan. Conceded by Óscar Duarte.
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Corner, Japan. Conceded by Keysher Fuller.
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