Brazil’s journey in the 2024 Copa America got off to a rocky start as they were held to a goalless draw by a resilient Costa Rican side at the SoFi Stadium on Thursday evening.
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities, the five-time world champions failed to capitalize, leaving the pitch with just one point in what was expected to be a straightforward victory in their Group D opener.
VAR and Missed Chances Define Brazil’s Night
Brazil entered the match as a heavy favorite and looked the part, controlling the game with 75% possession and firing 19 shots to Costa Rica’s meager 2.
The Seleção’s night, however, was marred by frustration as a potentially game-changing goal from Marquinhos was disallowed for offside after a VAR review in the 30th minute.
The sense of injustice deepened before the half-time whistle when a strong penalty appeal for a handball in the box was ignored by referee Cesar Ramos, inciting protests from Brazilian stars Vinicius Jr. and Marquinhos.
The second half mirrored the first, with Brazil continuously pressing and nearly breaking the deadlock. Lucas Paqueta came closest to scoring with a long-range effort that struck the post, a moment that epitomized Brazil’s night of near misses.
Costa Rica’s Defensive Masterclass
Costa Rica, widely regarded as an underdog, executed a defensive game plan almost perfectly. Coach Luis Fernando Suárez prepared his team to absorb pressure, which paid off.
All 11 players were frequently behind the ball, thwarting Brazilian attempts to penetrate their goal. Goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado was particularly impressive, making crucial saves and keeping his team in the game.
Despite their defensive posture, Costa Rica created a scare in the 68th minute when Joel Campbell’s clever dribbling led to a rare but threatening counter-attack, although the shot was ultimately blocked. Additionally, you can also read about- Copa America 2024 Fixtures.
Statistical Overview
The statistics from the match paint a clear picture of Brazil’s dominance and Costa Rica’s defensive resilience:
- Shots: Brazil 19, Costa Rica 2
- Shots on Target: Brazil 3, Costa Rica 0
- Possession: Brazil 74%, Costa Rica 26%
- Passes: Brazil 631, Costa Rica 184
- Corners: Brazil 9, Costa Rica 1
- Fouls: Brazil 13, Costa Rica 10
- Yellow Cards: Brazil 1, Costa Rica 2
Key Moments
- 30’ [Brazil] GOALLLL! Marquinhos scores, but the goal is quickly put under review.
- 33’ [Brazil] VAR rules out Marquinhos’ goal for offside.
- 63’ [Brazil] Lucas Paqueta hits the post with a powerful strike from distance.
- 68’ [Costa Rica] Campbell’s trickery leads to a chance, but it’s blocked.
- 90+1’ [Brazil] Bruno Guimaraes misses narrowly after a clever setup by Savio.
Coaches’ Perspective
Brazil’s coach, Dorival Junior, expressed his disappointment in the post-match interview, emphasizing the team’s missed opportunities and questioning some of the officiating decisions.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow. We played well and controlled the game, but we couldn’t find the back of the net. We also felt some decisions didn’t go our way,” he stated.
Conversely, Costa Rica’s Luis Fernando Suárez praised his team’s effort: “It was a heroic performance defensively. We knew what we were against, and the boys executed the plan brilliantly. This point is precious for us.”
Up Next
Brazil will look to rebound from their disappointing start when they face Colombia in their next group match. At the same time, Costa Rica will take on Paraguay, hopeful to build on their defensive success.
As Brazil ponders what could have been, Costa Rica celebrates a hard-fought point that could prove crucial in their Copa America campaign. The road to the cup is long, and both teams have much to prove in future matches.
