Costa Rica have pulled off the biggest victory in their history by beating Italy 1-0 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Captain Bryan Ruiz scored the only goal of the game as a disciplined and organised performance from Los Ticos helped them to their second triumph of the tournament following their 3-1 shock result over Uruguay six days ago.
The victory has allowed Jorge Luis Pinto's men, who remain at the top of Group D with six points, to qualify for the Round of 16 for just the second time.
After looking the more threatening of the two sides throughout the first half, Costa Rica took a deserved lead in the dying moments when Ruiz headed home Junior Diaz's cross from the left flank at the back post.
The ball ricocheted off the crossbar and down inside the goal-line which sent the closest Costa Rican players into wild celebrations before video technology confirmed the goal.
The CONCACAF nation made a lot of the attacking run in the first half and could have taken the lead when Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon got down low to his left to deny Christian Bolanos' long range effort just after the half-hour mark.
That came just moments after Mario Balotelli had two good chances for Italy but was unable to direct a bouncing ball on target as Keylor Navas advanced off his line before hitting a neat volley from outside the area but the Costa Rican keeper was equal to the task.
Costa Rica were unlucky not have a penalty late in the half when Giorgio Chiellini clattered into Joel Campbell's back as he bore down on goal.
There was little in the way of out-and-out scoring chances during the second term as Costa Rica looked to put the game to bed.
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli made three attacking changes after half-time, bringing on Antonio Cassano, Lorenzo Insigne and Alessio Cerci as he looked to extend their consecutive scoring record to 16 World Cup matches, but their output in the final third did not improve at all.
It was a superb performance by the Costa Ricans who have so far defied the odds to win both of their matches against much more fancied opposition ahead of their final group stage match with bottom-placed England on June 24 in Belo Horizonte.
Italy, who sit second behind the Central Americans, will meet Uruguay in Natal on the same day to see who joins La Sele in the Round of 16.
2014 FIFA World Cup - Group D
Italy: 0 Costa Rica: 1 (Bryan Ruiz 44')
Arena Pernambucano, Recife - 40,285
Yellow cards:ITA - Mario Balotelli 69' CRC - Jose Cubero 71'
