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SPORTS Saturday 23 June 2018

Brazil leaves it late to beat Costa Rica 2-0 at World Cup

By JEROME PUGMIRE injury, he went through a danger of ending in a draw, Stadium, Brazil came out complained to Kuipers at
AP Sports Writer very bad patch,” Coutinho Brazil seemed nervous but energized and the chanc- the end of the first half.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) said through a translator, composed itself through es piled up. Jesus put a Once again, he just waved
— After more than 90 min- referring to Neymar break- the seven minutes of injury header onto the crossbar, them away.
utes of aggravation and ing a bone in his right foot time. Coutinho was first and Neymar’s hurried shot “We don’t need referees
exasperation, Neymar and four months ago. “But his to get the ball past goal- curled wide. decisions to win a game,”
Brazil finally broke through joy at being on the pitch is keeper Keylor Navas. Rising In Brazil’s opening 1-1 draw Tite said. “Brazil doesn’t
Costa Rica’s smothering contagious.” superbly to meet a header against Switzerland, Ney- need any help.”
defense. A few minutes before the from Marcelo’s cross, Ro- mar had been fouled 10 GROUP DYNAMICS
Philippe Coutinho scored in end, Neymar flopped berto Firmino nodded the times, sometimes harshly. The match between Brazil
the first minute of stoppage backward to initially earn ball down to striker Gabriel But he was also in theatrical and Serbia in Moscow on
time, and Neymar followed a penalty, but the contact Jesus, who then flicked it to mode against Costa Rica, Wednesday could yet de-
six minutes later to give Bra- was so exaggerated that a sprinting Coutinho in the tumbling over dramatically termine which teams finish
zil a 2-0 victory over Costa the referee reversed the penalty area. when touched. in first and second place in
Rica on Friday at the World call after using video re- In the seventh minute of “We never tried to hurt Group E.
Cup. Unlike Argentina and view. Neymar then angrily injury time, Douglas Costa him,” Ramirez said. “We Costa Rica will play Swit-
Lionel Messi, Brazil is still in a punched the ball a short whipped in a cross from tried to play fairly but stop zerland on Wednesday in
good position to advance time later as Costa Rica’s the right and Neymar deftly him fairly as well.” Nizhny Novgorod in its final
to the round of 16. Costa players tried to waste time. tapped it into the net. Referee Bjorn Kuipers twice group match.
Rica has been eliminated. It earned Brazil’s biggest Both Firmino and Costa waved away Neymar’s KEY TO SUCCESS
“The responsibility is huge star a yellow card. had come on as substitutes claims for fouls in the first With Neymar still short of his
when you are playing for “The joy, the satisfaction in the second half. half. He also ignored a Bra- best following the foot inju-
the national team,” Coutin- and the pride of represent- “I think Brazil’s changes zilian claim for a penalty ry, Brazil once again turned
ho said. “You have to be ing the national team is a made an impact,” Costa after midfielder Paulinho to Coutinho for inspiration.
mentally strong from the lot,” Brazil coach Tite said, Rica coach Oscar Ramirez bounced off defender Os- He was at the heart of Bra-
beginning until the end. We defending Neymar. “He said. “It became very diffi- Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, left, challenges for the
fought until the end and has the responsibility, the cult for us.” ball with Brazil’s Neymar during the group E match between
we were rewarded.” pressure. Everyone shows it Brazil has four points in Brazil and Costa Rica at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St.
Neymar dropped to his in their own way.” Group E and plays Serbia Petersburg Stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, June 22,
2018.
knees after the final whistle, Neymar seemed panicked in its final match in Moscow Associated Press
sobbing in his hands as his for most of the second half on Wednesday. Costa Rica
teammates surrounded as his shots sailed over the has zero points and cannot car Duarte contesting a zil’s best moves and kept
him and then lifted him off bar or simply missed the advance. high ball. the tempo going with his
the ground. mark, and he complained After a drab and scrappy Several players, includ- crisp passing and darting
“We know he had a difficult over nearly every call. In first half at St. Petersburg ing Neymar and Marcelo, runs.q

Who’s in and who’s out at the World Cup

MOSCOW (AP) — Who’s compete for two spots. and tops the group with goals Friday to vault from
in, who’s out and possible Spain plays Morocco on six points. Argentina got a precarious position to
scenarios at the World Monday, when Portugal some help Friday when the brink of qualifying for
Cup: GROUP A meets Iran. Nigeria beat Iceland 2-0. the knockout stage. The
Russia and Uruguay have GROUP C Nigeria (three points) will 2-0 win also eliminated
clinched berths in the France has advanced and advance with a win over Costa Rica. Switzerland
round of 16, and play leads with six points. Den- Argentina (one point) on (four points) pulled off a
each other Monday to mark is second with four Tuesday, when Iceland 2-1 comeback win over
determine who wins the after a 1-1 draw against plays Croatia. But Iceland Serbia (three points), leav-
group. Egypt and Saudi Australia, which has one (one point) or the last- ing three teams bunched Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa
Arabia have been elimi- point. Peru has been elimi- place Argentines could together, all with a celebrates his team’s second
nated. nated. Denmark plays survive with a win and a chance to advance but goal during the group D
match between Nigeria and
GROUP B France on Tuesday, when Nigeria loss or tie, depend- with only two spots to be Iceland at the 2018 soccer
Morocco has been elimi- Australia takes on Peru. ing on goal difference. had. Serbia meets Brazil on World Cup in the Volgograd
nated, leaving Portugal GROUP D GROUP E Wednesday at the same Arena in Volgograd, Russia,
and Spain (four points Croatia has secured a Brazil (four points) got a time Switzerland plays Friday, June 22, 2018.
each) and Iran (three) to trip to the second round pair of stoppage-time Costa Rica.q Associated Press