Jeff Gross/Getty Images(RECIFE, Brazil) — After giving up a stoppage time goal that forced extra time, Costa Rica rebounded to defeat Greece 5-3 on penalty kicks Sunday afternoon. With the win, Costa Rica advances into the quarterfinals for the first time in history.
Following a very stagnant first half, Bryan Ruiz put Costa Rica on top in the 52nd minute to give Los Ticos the lead. Costa Rica had to play the final 25 minutes of regulation, and all of extra time, with just 10 men after Oscar Duarte was sent off with a red card.
The winners of Group D relied on some impressive play by goalkeeper Keylor Nevas to maintain the advantage until injury time. That was when Sokratis Papastathopoulos drove home a ball that was originally saved by Nevas.
Neither team was able to score in extra time and the match went to penalties. Both teams converted on each of their first three spot kicks, with Costa Rica scoring on their fourth. Theofanis Gekas approached to keep Greece tied, but Nevas made a sprawling save to his right and Michael Umana finished the Greeks off with his spot kick.
Costa Rica now faces the Netherlands, who defeated Mexico earlier in the day, in the quarterfinals.
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