Costa Rica coast at Greece\\\'s cost

Costa Rica advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Greece in Recife, Brazil, on Monday. The Central American minnows defeated Greece 5-3 on penalties at the Pernambuco Arena to reach the last eight and will face Holland, who beat Mexico 2-1 in Sunday’s other match in the knockout phase of the 2014 World Cup. Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas was the hero, saving Greece’s fourth penalty from Fanis Gekas before Michael Umana stepped up to convert the winning spot-kick for ‘Los Ticos.’ The lacklustre game saw Costa Rica take the lead on 52 minutes through captain Bryan Ruiz. Christian Bolanos picked out Ruiz on the edge of the area, and the 28-year-old striker coolly placed his finish in the bottom corner beyond Orestis Karnezis. Costa Rica, the surprise package of the World Cup so far after winning Group D ahead of Uruguay, Italy and England, looked to have Greece’s measure. But the dismissal of Costa Rica’s Oscar Duarte for a tackle on Jose Holebas swung the game back towards the Greeks. Costa Rica appeared to have survived the onslaught but with just seconds to go, Navas could only parry a shot from Theofanis Gekas, and Sokratis Papastathopoulos was on hand to sweep home the equaliser. Both sides created chances in extra-time, but were unable to find a way through, leading to the shoot-out lottery. ‘To everyone back home and out on the streets - this is for you,’ said Costa Rica’s manager Jorge Luis Pinto. ‘The people love football and they deserve this. We’re ambitious, we want to grow and develop and God willing we will go on in this tournament,’ according to AFP.