Costa Rica's Oscar Duarte celebrates scoring against Uruguay (Reuters)
Costa Rica pulled off the first shock of the 2014 World Cup with a richly deserved 3-1 Group D win over Uruguay in Fortaleza.
Having fallen behind to an Edinson Cavani penalty, Costa Rica hit back with a powerful Joel Campbell shot and a brilliant stooping header by Oscar Duarte.
Substitute Marcos Urena made it three with his first contribution, prompting wild scenes on the Costa Rican bench.
And as Uruguay lost all semblance of self-control, Maxi Pereira was sent off in stoppage time for a wild hack.
Uruguay were missing Luis Suarez who warmed up extensively but did not come off the bench - Suarez will surely start against England next Thursday, a match the South Americans probably need to win to avoid an early exit.
While Suarez
was missed, Uruguay need to emerge from a collective malaise after a
dismal second-half performance, which confirmed why a side seemingly
packed with talented players almost failed to qualify for Brazil.
It
should not detract from an ambitious and incisive performance from a
team who many imagined would be Group D whipping boys. Instead Jose Luis
Pinto's squad stand one more win away from a place in the last 16 of
the World Cup.
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