Costa Rica defeated Paraguay 2-1 in their final Copa América Group D match on Tuesday, but were unable to advance to the quarterfinals. Despite the win, they finished third in their group following Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Colombia.
Colombia topped the group with seven points, with Brazil also advancing as runners-up with five points. Costa Rica concluded their campaign with four points, while Paraguay exited after three consecutive losses.
Costa Rica’s early goals came from Francisco Calvo and 19-year-old Josimar Alcocer, putting them ahead 2-0 within the first seven minutes. Calvo scored with a header in the third minute, followed by Alcocer’s powerful shot from outside the box.
However, their hopes of qualifying diminished 10 minutes into the second half when Paraguay’s Ramon Sosa scored after a setup by Mathias Villasanti. Despite a late scare in added time, Costa Rican goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira made a crucial save to secure the victory.
Costa Rica’s coach, Gustavo Alfaro, reflected on the team’s performance, acknowledging the tough competition and emphasizing the growth and learning experiences gained during the tournament. Conversely, Paraguay’s coach, Daniel Garnero, lamented their poor performance and indicated uncertainty about his future with the team.
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