Costa Rica player ratings as Gamboa is stand-out but Borges flops in defeat to Brazil

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Cristian Gamboa marshalled Neymar from right-back.

    Costa Rica were beaten 2-0 by Brazil in their Group E World Cup clash on Friday afternoon.

    Two late goals, firstly by Philippe Coutinho in the 91st minute, and then Neymar in the sixth minute of added time, sealed the Ticos’ fate after a heroic display.

    It leaves the Samba side on fives points after two games, and Costa Rica propping up the table.

    Serbia and Switzerland face-off on Saturday.

    Here, we rate the performance of Oscar Ramirez’s men.

    Costa Rica 3-4-2-1

    Keylor Navas – 8: Used all his experience and did exceptionally well to smoother Neymar’s advance through on goal in first-half. Handling was exceptional and made some fine saves in second period. Could do nothing with the goals.

    Johnny Acosta – 6: Part of committed back three who did everything within their limited powers to keep Brazil at bay, but sadly, it wasn’t enough in the end.

    Giancarlo Gonzalez – 6: Strong in the air and did more than anyone to make the Costa Rica defence as watertight as possible.

    Oscar Duarte – 7: Cool and calm presence, never afraid to get on the ball and make a pass. Made several crucial blocks and put body on the line for the cause.

    Cristian Gamboa – 8: Fantastic bursting run down the right flank on 13 minutes and cut ball back superbly to Borges, who hit the ball wide from 12 yards. Made two crucial blocks in second-half and was generally everywhere. Star man.

    Celso Borges – 4: The guilty party with that bad miss when he at least needed to work the goalkeeper. Poor technique proved costly and let Coutinho run off him for what turned out to be crucial goal.

    David Guzman – 6: Covered plenty of ground in the middle and did steady job at thwarting Brazil’s advances from midfield. Subbed late on.

    Bryan Oviedo – 5: Sunderland man failed to get forward to his usual good effect and struggled to contain Douglas Costa after his arrival on the pitch.

    Bryan Ruiz – 6: Chief playmaker was quiet as his nation struggled to create a good opening on goal. Nevertheless, still looked most likely to create something.

    Marco Urena – 5: Los Angeles forward again struggled to make much of an impact and was holed off on 54 minutes.

    Johan Venegas – 6:  Offered an outlet and got in the thick of things when Ruiz chipped into Brazil penalty area, and the Samba side struggled to clear on 68 minutes.

    Substitutes:

    Christian Bolanos – 6: Showed more that Urena and certainly made Costa Rica more dynamic from a forward perspective.

    Francisco Calvo – 4: It was a gamble to take Gamboa off, who was partly running on empty, but his replacement Calvo struggled dearly with positional play.

    Yeltsin Tejeda – 5: Yet again another risky, late substitution as Costa Rica seemed to lose powers of communication.

    Recommended