A revamped Costa Rica team defeated Saudi Arabia 1-3 on Friday in a friendly match played in Newcastle and which marked the debut of the Italian coach on the Saudi bench. Roberto Mancini.
In the first game since leaving the Luis Fernando Suarez, Costa Rica coach in the final Qatar 2022 World Cup, where they are one of Spain’s rivals, the ‘Ticos’ clearly won with goals from the defender Francisco Calvo and two forwards who did not count for the Colombian coach in his process: Manfred Ugalde and Randall Leal.
The Costa Rican national team is managed on an interim basis by the sports director of the Costa Rican Football Federation, the Argentinian Claudio Vivas, and this Friday he showed offensive football that in many sections surpassed the formation led by Mancini.
The former Italian coach and former coach of teams such as Inter Milan and Manchester City, began his process in Saudi Arabia with a defeat against Costa Rica, in a match where his team showed good football.
Costa Rica scored from set pieces
Costa Rica dominated the first half with good pressure on the opponent and continued to come from both sides Joel Campbell as Jimmy Marin which continues to search the area for 9 Manfred Ugaldestriker for Dutch team Twente.
Despite a good amount of play, the Ticos found the goals in the 12th and 32nd minute on set pieces launched by Campbell on the heads of his companions. At first, the defender Francisco Calvo He expects the goalkeeper to leave; and secondly, Manfred Ugalde He expects his marker.
Keylor, safe on his return
With a two-goal advantage, Costa Rica measured its efforts and it allowed Saudi Arabia to start creating dangerous plays at the end of the first half, but their attempts ran into the hands of an outstanding Keylor Navaswho continued to show good reflexes in goal in his first game with his team since the 2022 World Cup.
In the second half, former Levantinista and former Real Madrid player Keylor had to work hard with two long-distance shots that he managed to deflect to avoid the goal. However, he couldn’t do anything with a double header inside the area that ended with the goal of Al Bulaihi.
Honest sentence
At the end of the game Randall Lealwith a powerful cross shot, gave Costa Rica a third goal to give his team peace of mind and end any hopes of a tie for the Saudis.
Costa Rica, which presented a young team with some experience such as Keylor, Campbell and Calvowill return to the field next Tuesday when they face the United Arab Emirates team, a friendly match to be held in Croatia.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
