Costa Rica reach quarter-finals after penalties

Costa Rica advanced to quarter finals for the first time after defeating Greece 5-3 on penalties in 2014 FIFA World Cup at Arena Pernambuco, Recife, on Sunday.

The Central American side broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Bryan Ruiz made a tricky shot that went into the side of the net gently as Greek goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis could only watch the ball, 1-0.

In the 66th minute, Costa Rican defender Oscar Duarte picked up his second yellow card after tripping his opponent, leaving his team with 10 men for the remaining minutes of the game.

During stoppage time, Greece found an equaliser when defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos scored after following the ball deflected by Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas in the box, 1-1.

Pushing higher up against 10-man Costa Rica, Greece were so close to win the game when Mitroglou missed a great chance in the last minutes of the second period of the extra time. Since none of the sides could change the score, the winner had to be decided by penalties.

Greece lost to Costa Rica on penalty shoot-out after their forward Theofanis Gekas' miss.

The triumph made Costa Rica reach World Cup quarter finals for the first time in history.

In quarter-final phase Costa Rica will play against Netherlands in Salvador on July 5.