Costa Rica have recorded arguably their most significant victory in their football history by beating Uruguay 3-1 in their opening 2014 FIFA World Cup fixture.
The Costa Ricans conceded first to Edinson Cavani in Fortaleza but were able to hit back strongly through Joel Campbell, Oscar Duarte and Marco Urena before Maxi Pereira's late red card dampened the evening further for the Uruguayans.
Uruguay's opening goal came in the 24th minute when captain Diego Lugano was pulled down in the area by Junior Diaz when attempting to get to a free-kick. The contact from Diaz was strong enough to floor Lugano, allowing Edinson Cavani to step up and slot home from the spot past a despairing Keylor Navas.
Costa Rica, who had been impressive after conceding, then levelled in the 54th minute when Joel Campbell controlled the ball inside the box before firing home an unstoppable shot past a hapless Fernando Muslera.
Within three minutes, Los Ticos had hit the front when Oscar Duarte hit his backpost header from Christian Bolanos' free-kick inside Muslera's left post, sending the Costa Rican players into raptures.
Costa Rica were heading towards a famous victory and it was confirmed six minutes from time when substitute Marco Urena raced onto a beautiful through ball from Campbell before finishing deftly from a tight angle to complete the celebrations.
There were a number of other chances for both sides but it was of no consequence to the Costa Ricans who were rejoicing in what is their biggest result in a World Cup to date.
It gives Jorge Luis Pinto's side a stronghold on Group D prior to the England v Italy match on Saturday night while Oscar Tabarez and his men will go back to the drawing board and hope that Luis Suarez is fit for the June 19 meeting with the Three Lions.
2014 FIFA World Cup - Group D
Uruguay: 1 (Edinson Cavani (p) 24') Costa Rica: 3 (Joel Campbell 54', Oscar Duarte 57', Marco Urena 84')
Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza - 58,679
Yellow cards:URU - Diego Lugano 50', Walter Gargano 56', Martin Caceres 79' COS - nil Red Card:URU - Maxi Pereira 90+4'
