After conceding seven goals in a demoralizing blowout loss to Spain, all it took was one shot to get Costa Rica back into the World Cup.
In the 81st minute against Japan, who jumped onto the scene as a potential dark horse after stunning Germany 2–1 in its opening game, Costa Rica scored with its first shot on target in the entire tournament courtesy of Keysher Fuller’s looping effort.
The Concacaf region (Canada, Mexico, U.S. and Costa Rica) had struggled as a whole, coming into Sunday with no combined wins and one goal through six games, but Costa Rica managed to secure the region’s first victory in unlikely fashion with a 1–0 win against Japan.
