November 27,2022

Japan were given a brutal reality check after opening the 2022 World Cup with a win over Germany as they fell to minnows Costa Rica on Sunday. Costa Rica won 1-0 in an uneventful game in Qatar

In truth, the game was perhaps the match with the least action seen at the 2022 World Cup so far and for most of the game it looked destined to end without a goal or anything even nearing what could be considered excitement

Costa Rica only managed a single shot on target, but that was all they needed as Keysher Fuller found the back of the net with his effort in the 81st minute.

Japan edged it without impressing

Japan were the better of the two teams on the day, though it has to be said that the bar was very low and there was very little in terms of quality on display from either of the two teams.

With Costa Rica having conceded seven in their opening-day hammering against Spain and Japan having come from behind to win over Germany, it was expected that the Asian side would add three more points to their tally and qualify for the knockout rounds. But things did not go to plan.

Although they weren’t ever threatened at the back, Japan didn’t ever pile pressure onto Costa Rica either, despite dominating the possession and having more than twice as many attempts as their opponents. They only managed three on target in the entire game

Smash and grab

Costa Rica took their chance, and they only really had one.

When the ball came to Fuller on the edge of the area, time appeared to freeze. His effort was good if not a little tame, but Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda made a complete mess of his attempt to save it, and his hands flopped back as the ball went into the top corner