Costa Rica storm back to down stout Suriname

ORLANDO, Florida. - Suriname went head-to-head with Costa Rica in a very tight game in 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Group C, with the more experienced Ticos taking the 2-1 win at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium on Friday night.

With the result, Costa Rica have advanced to the knockout stage of the Gold Cup. Meanwhile, Suriname are eliminated from reaching the next round, but did make history by scoring their first ever Gold Cup goal.

At the end of the first half in the 43’ right after an amazing save, Alvarado made contact outside the box, earning a yellow card and giving Suriname a free-kick. Suriname FW Marc Jozefzoon took the shot, but it was off target and served as a missed opportunity to open the scoring. 

In the second half, Costa Rica came out with intense pressure on Suriname, but it was the Caribbean country that took advantage of their first opportunity. In the 52’, Suriname FW Gleofilo Vlijter, from an angle while falling to the ground, scored the country’s first ever Gold Cup goal to give his side a 1-0 lead.

With their experience, though, Costa Rica shook off the Suriname goal and roared back in the 58’ through veteran FW Joel Campbell, who in his 100th game with Costa Rica found the 1-1 equalizer with a powerful header.

A minute later in the 59’, it was suddenly 2-1 to Costa Rica. Suriname GK Warner Hahn blocked a shot, but was unable to keep the ball under control and Costa Rica team captain Celso Borges was there to send the ball to the back of the net, giving Costa Rica a 2-1 lead. Costa Rica have now won all five Gold Cup matches in which Borges has scored a goal.

It got slightly complicated for Costa Rica in the final minutes, as DF Francisco Calvo was sent off, and a stoppage time blast by FW Ivenzo Comvalius off the post almost gave Suriname the equalizer. 

However, in the end, Costa Rica hung on to defeat a very valiant Suriname side.