Costa Rica produced another World Cup upset as Keysher Fuller scored the only goal to sink Group E rivals Japan 1-0 at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Defender Fuller fired a late winner with Costa Rica’s first shot on target in the 81st minute to throw the group wide open and bring Japan crashing back down to earth after their stunning opening win against Germany.
Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu made five changes and was punished for resting key players as his side were unable to replicate those heroics.
Costa Rica had been thrashed 7-0 in their opening game against Spain and, after frustrating Japan for large periods, they snatched an unlikely victory.
Head coach Luis Fernando Suarez responded to the Central Americans’ capitulation against Spain by making just two changes and his side was content to limit Japan to few chances.
Japan were big favourites going into the match and they were first to threaten through Ritsu Doan’s shot from outside the box.
Costa Rica’s first attempt came in the 35th minute from Francisco Calvo, who was also off target with his long-range effort.
Neither side created another chance of note in a disappointing first period, but Costa Rica’s Paris St German goalkeeper Keylor Navas saved well from Hidemasa Morita’s shot soon after the restart.
Japan sent on Takuma Asano and Hiroki Ito at half-time and they added an intensity that had been sorely lacking.
Navas was forced into action again to keep out Asano’s header, while Ko Itakura and Wataru Endo had successive shots blocked.
Spain 7 Costa Rica 0 - player ratings
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SPAIN RATINGS: Unai Simon - 7. Had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do as Costa Rica didn’t have a single shot on goal. That hasn’t happened since a game between Brazil and Costa Rica in 1990. And that was the first time since 1966 that a team didn’t have a shot on goal. In contrast, Spain had 15. Getty -
Jordi Alba - 9. As advanced as he plays for Barcelona, his quick ball to Asensio set up the second. Fouled for Spain’s penalty which led to the third. In and out for Barcelona this season, he’s likely to be a mainstay for as long as Spain stay in the finals. Getty -
Aymeric Laporte - 8. Completed more passes in the first half than the entire Costa Rica team put together. Getty -
Rodri - 7. Played as a central defender rather than a defensive midfielder. As easy as it will get for him at international level as Spain completed over 1,000 passes in the match. AFP -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 7. More key passes forward for any defender. Unchallenged in Spain’s biggest ever World Cup win. AFP -
Sergio Busquets - 8. One of five Barcelona players in Spain’s starting XI. Saw plenty of ball as Spain has 85 per cent of possession and passed their opponents into an early submission. Passed to Alba who was in space to set up the second. Won everything in the air. Reuters -
Pedri - 9. Costa Rica struggled to get near him and his rapid passing which helped set up the opening goal. A cut above any other player. Getty -
Gavi - 8. At 18, Spain’s youngest ever player in a World Cup finals, he dropped a beautiful ball in to set up Olmo for the opener. Scored himself when he volleyed in Spain’s fifth after 74 minutes. That made him the youngest goalscorer in a World Cup match since Pele in 1958. Superb technique. EPA -
Dani Olmo - 9. The 24-year-old Catalan directed a beautiful ball wide after four minutes, then scored Spain’s 100th goal in World Cup finals after a graceful spin/turn. Set up Spain’s seventh. Huge lift for the player who’d been injured before the finals. Getty -
Marco Asensio - 8. Shot on target was saved by Navas on 8, but he scored Spain’s second after 20, sweeping an Alba cross past the bungling Navas for his first World Cup goal. Out of favour with Real Madrid but played well for his country. AP -
Ferran Torres - 8. Made it 3-0 with a cool penalty after just 30 minutes. And 4-0 after 53, hooking in a ball past the hapless, hopeless, Costa Ricans. Perfect start for him in the World Cup finals. AFP -
SUBS: Alvaro Morata (Torres, 57') - 8. Set up Gavi for the fifth. Scored himself, Spain’s seventh. He’s now scored 28 goals for his country. AFP -
Carlos Soler (Pedri 57') - 7. Slotted in his fourth international goal to make it 6-0. EPA -
Alejandro Balde (Alba 64') - 6. On his World Cup debut. Crossed towards Soler which led to Spain’s sixth. EPA -
Koke (Busquets 64') - 6. Assumed the captain’s armband, an experienced player among the young. Getty -
Nico Williams (Asensio 69') - 6. Came on as Luis Enrique gave his players minutes and rests ahead of their key game against Germany. EPA -
COSTA RICA RATINGS: Keylor Navas - 1. The experienced goalkeeper had to do better with the second goal as Marco Asensio’s shot didn’t look to be directed too far into the corner. A tough opening game for the Paris Saint-Germain star as he picked the ball out of his net on seven occasions. AFP -
Bryan Oviedo - 4. Worked hard throughout the match as one of the more experienced players in Costa Rica’s side, but couldn’t make an impact against a dominant Spain side. Replaced in the 82nd minute as focus switched to the next game. Getty -
Francisco Calvo - 2. It wasn’t clear what Calvo was doing for the fourth goal conceded as he made an initial block before showing a lack of intensity to react to the second ball. A moment that summed up Costa Rica’s defensive display. AFP -
Oscar Duarte - 2. Conceded a penalty in the 29th minute that left Costa Rica with a mountain to climb. A strong challenge denied Asensio from a second goal close to the half-time whistle. Slow to react in situations. AFP -
Carlos Martinez - 5. Forced to battle hard against a Spain side that often came down his flank. Could have used more help from his midfield who were slow to track runners. Substituted at half-time. EPA -
Keysher Fuller - 4. Allowed too much space for Jordi Alba to benefit from overlapping runs and had to help out his full-back more to prevent an attacking route that Spain profited from frequently. AFP -
Celso Borges - 6. One of the few Costa Rica players able to maintain possession while also winning a number of duels. Sometimes applied pressure in the wrong moments, but it was a difficult midfield battle on the night against Pedri and Gavi. Reuters -
Yeltsin Tejeda - 4. Couldn’t seem to get on the ball enough despite playing in midfield and gave away possession cheaply when he did, though that wasn’t helped by an overall poor team performance from Costa Rica. AP -
Jewison Bennette - 5. A tough night for the 18-year-old who spent most of the game trying to keep shape as Spain kept possession. Wasn’t provided service when forward to try and influence the match. AFP -
Joel Campbell - 4. Tried to link play with Keysher Fuller but a lack of service in forward areas meant he often had to play cautiously. A lack of service meant he could rarely get going in a match that became a training exercise for Spain. Booked late-on. AP -
Anthony Contreras - 4. Held the ball up well in some moments under pressure but was more often dispossessed as multiple defenders crowded him out. AFP -
SUBS: Kendall Waston (Martinez, 45') - 6. Won a number of duels that helped relieve pressure. Looked to add a level of physicality to Costa Rica’s defence and was strong in the tackle, though could have been quicker to track Morata for the seventh goal. A solid case to start the next game. AFP -
Bryan Ruiz (Bennette, 61') - 5. Found similar struggles to Bennette and gave away the ball too easily. EPA -
Alvaro Zamora (Contreras, 61') - 5. Kept things simple as Costa Rica looked to keep the score down, with the match out of sight by the time he was brought on. Brandon Aguilera (Borges, 72') N/A. Ronald Matarrita (Oviedo, 82') N/A. AFP
Costa Rica offered next to nothing in attack, but stayed in the game as further efforts from Japanese pair Daichi Kamada and Yuki Soma were also blocked.
Japan were then caught cold with nine minutes remaining as Costa Rica made a rare foray forward.
Yeltsin Tejeda pounced on Hidemasa Morita’s misplaced pass and slipped in Fuller on the edge of the box and he curled a left-footed finish into the top corner, goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda getting his hands to the shot but not able to keep it out.
Japan responded with their best chance of the match in the 88th minute, but Kamada’s effort from inside the area was saved by the feet of Navas.
Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez said they were still in with a chance of qualification from the group after the victory.
"We weren't dead yesterday and we are still very much alive today, and we have to think about the next match on Thursday," Suarez said.
"I need to value and appreciate what my players have done to get this result.
"We had to face many challenges. However, we firmly believed and wanted to do things well to be 100 per cent committed to our country to play well against an opponent such as Japan.
"Yes, we won against Japan, but we must emphasise that we won against this (particular) national team of Japan. They are playing so well during this World Cup and this is something that needs to be appreciated greatly. In the last few days, we worked much more than usual to get a victory today."
The fate of Costa Rica will be decided in their last group match, which is likely to be crucial for opponents Germany.
