In their last Copa América Group D match on Tuesday, Costa Rica defeated Paraguay 2-1; nevertheless, despite placing third after Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Colombia, they were unable to advance to the quarterfinals.
With seven points, Colombia emerged victorious in the group, followed by Brazil in second place with five. Paraguay exits after three losses, while Costa Rica returns home with four points.
In order to qualify, Costa Rica required both favourable outcomes and a significant difference in goal differential. They scored two goals in as many minutes, through Francisco Calvo as the captain and Josimar Alcocer.
In the third minute, Calvo scored from the edge of the six-yard box, while Alcocer, then 19 years old, outran many opponents and beat the custodian with a shot from well outside the box.
However, ten minutes into the second half, Mathias Villasanti dribbled into the box and set up Ramon Sosa, who scored his first goal for Paraguay by blasting the ball into the top corner, ending Costa Rica’s hopes of qualifying.
In injury time, Costa Rica was on the verge of conceding again from a corner, but goalie Patrick Sequeira produced a fingertip save to save Paraguay from equalising.
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