In truth, the game was 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 nearing what could be considered excitement.
Costa Rica only managed a single shot on target
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 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 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 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 conceding 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. 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.