SAN JOSE, Costa Rica.- Costa Rica fought back from a goal down to secure its first victory of the final round of World Cup qualification in the Concacaf region, beating El Salvador 2-1 at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose on Sunday.
Jairo Henriquez opened the scoring for the visitors in the 12th minute when Joaquin Rivas placed a pass into Henriquez’s path, allowing the attacker to run up and lash a long shot past Costa Rica GK Keylor Navas for a 1-0 lead.
👉 ¡Golazo de La Selecta! Tremendo disparo fuera del área por parte de Jairo Hernández y al fondo de las redes.
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) October 10, 2021
⏱️ 12' 🇨🇷 0 🆚 1 🇸🇻
⚽ 🇸🇻 J. Hernández #CWCQ
In the 36th minute, the home side had a chance to draw level with Joel Campbell putting in a free kick that Celso Borges headed on target, but El Salvador GK Mario Gonzalez was able to deny the shot.
Costa Rica found the 1-1 equalizer in the 52nd minute, with Campbell passing to Borges, who then played a ball for Ruiz at the back post and the captain headed in past Gonzalez.
👉 ¡Gooooool de La Sele! 🥳 Bryan Ruiz de cabeza en el área y concreta el 1 por 1. 🇨🇷
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) October 10, 2021
⏱️ 37' 🇨🇷 1 🆚 1 🇸🇻
⚽ 🇸🇻 J. Hernández
⚽ 🇨🇷 B. Ruiz #CWCQ
Gonzalez was beaten again six minutes later, as the Salvadoran goalkeeper was whistled for bringing down FW Jose Ortiz and Borges converted the spot kick to make it 2-1.
👉 ¡Costa Rica lo remonta! ⚽ De penal y en botines de Celso Borges, los ticos convierten el segundo. 🇨🇷
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) October 10, 2021
⏱️ 58' 🇨🇷 2 🆚 1 🇸🇻
⚽ 🇸🇻 J. Hernández
⚽ 🇨🇷 B. Ruiz
⚽ 🇨🇷 C. Borges
El Salvador finished the match with 10 men, with Narcisco Orellana shown a red card in the 85th minute after a tackle he attempted ended with his foot coming down on Campbell’ Achilles.
Next up for Costa Rica is a journey to face the United States, while El Salvador returns home, hosting Mexico at the Estadio Cuscatlán.
