Costa Rica qualified for the world championships in Qatar, New Zealand beaten

A goal from Campbell in the 3 ‘drags Costa Rica towards Qatar 2022, condemning New Zealand. After Australia’s success against Peru, it was the turn of Keylor Navas and his teammates, who will occupy the 32nd (and last) available space on the next World Cup draw. The success against the Oceanians bears the signature of the former Arsenal promise – who also passed through Frosinone -, who at the start of the match scores the final 1-0. The team coached by Luis Suarez will be placed in group E of the competition, along with Spain, Germany and Japan.

The match

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In the playoff challenge Costa Rica, which came fourth in the group behind the USA, Mexico and Canada, and New Zealand, triumphant in the Oceania qualifiers, face off. The hosts are betting everything on the experience of Keylor Navas in goal, fielding Campbell forward along with Torres and Enriquez. On the other hand, there are the “Italians” Cacace (Empoli) and Kirwan (Padua), called to run on the flanks serving balls to striker Chris Wood. The game, however, immediately goes downhill for the Central Americans, who at the first opportunity break the deadlock with Campbell. New Zealand wasted with Greive and in the 40th minute equalized with Wood, but the referee canceled everything for an offensive foul. At the start of the second half, Costa Rica sent two defenders and captain Bryan Ruiz to the field. Enriquez misses the second but at 70 ‘the triumph draws closer: the New Zealand striker Barbarouses, who took over from 10’, gets kicked out for a bad foul. Los Ticos can thus administer the advantage, Navas raises the wall and New Zealand is forced to surrender. It ends 1-0 and Campbell smiles: his goal is worth the fifth qualification in the last six editions of the World Cup, the sixth in the history of the national team.