Costa Rica secured an early advantage with two quick goals to defeat Paraguay 2-1 in their final Copa America Group D match on Tuesday.
Despite the victory, Costa Rica did not advance to the quarter-finals, finishing third due to Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Colombia.
Colombia topped the group with seven points, while Brazil advanced as runners-up with five.
Costa Rica ended their campaign with four points, and Paraguay exited the tournament after three consecutive losses.
“This was a very tough group. We were playing against Brazil and Colombia, two of the four favourites to win the Copa,” said Costa Rica coach Gustavo Alfaro.
“We had our strengths, our achievements and our mistakes, but we grew and we’re analysing the performance rather than the results. The important thing is that we learn and that this was a very short tournament that we had to seize to the fullest.”
Costa Rica needed favorable results and a significant goal difference swing to qualify. They started strongly, with skipper Francisco Calvo and Josimar Alcocer scoring within the first seven minutes.
Calvo scored with a header from the edge of the six-yard box in the third minute, and 19-year-old Alcocer powered through multiple defenders before striking from outside the box to score.
However, Paraguay responded in the second half, reducing Costa Rica’s hopes of qualification when Ramon Sosa scored his first international goal ten minutes after the break.
Costa Rica’s defense was unable to stop Mathias Villasanti, who dribbled into the box and set up Sosa for a powerful shot into the top corner, beyond goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira’s reach.
Costa Rica nearly conceded again during added time, but Sequeira’s fingertips deflected Fabian Balbuena’s header, preventing Angel Romero from scoring.
This marked the first time since 1925 that Paraguay had lost all their group stage matches.
“It was a bad tournament, a bad performance,” said Paraguay coach Daniel Garnero.
Regarding his future, Garnero added, “I am here because the association requested my services and if they don’t want me to continue, that is their decision. I’ll have to discuss that with them.”
