The 29-year-old striker managed to put his foot in the penalty area between three defenders after a cross from the left wing. Campbell didn’t hit the ball hard, but was clear enough to pass the New Zealand goalkeeper.
Chris Wood scored on behalf of the New Zealanders in the 39th minute, but his goal was disallowed by the referee on the advice of the VAR. The VAR also determined midway through the second half that Costa Barbaros, who had just come in, had been converted into a red card so New Zealand had to look for a 10-man equalizer. But Costa Rica held on at home thanks to outstanding goalkeeper Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain). 36-year-old Brian Ruiz, a former Twente and PSV Eindhoven player, played in the second half.
Just as in 1990, 2002, 2006, 2014, and 2018, a Central American country can participate in the World Cup. Costa Rica reached the quarter-finals in 2014, losing to the Netherlands on penalties. National coach Luis Fernando Suarez’s team plays in Qatar in Group E against Germany, Spain and Japan. New Zealand stayed in two World Cup matches, in 1982 and 2010.
These are all groups in the World Cup in Qatar†
