Turkey started by pushing back Costa Rica at every
opportunity. Defeat for the Turks would mean elimination from the competition.
Hasan Sas is again looking lively for Turkey while Paulo
Wanchope fired over the bar on one of Costa Rica's rarer meaningful attacks in the opening
half-hour.
Once Costa Rica were allowed to get into some rhythm their
pace was enough to split the Turkish defense and cause Rustu's heartbeat to increase.
Towards the end of the half, Turkey started to lose their
discipline again and Costa Rica finished slightly stronger.
Half-time: Costa Rica 0 -- Turkey 0
Rustu Recber started the second-half even though he seemed
to pick up an injury when hooking away the ball in the first half.
Hakan Sukur had two good chances to put Turkey ahead
shortly after the restart but wasted them.
-- GOAL -- 0-1
Hasan Sas laid the ball back into the path of Emre Belozoglu whose
initial shot was blocked, by Gilberto Martínez, but the Inter midfielder showed enough
composure to turn with the ball and keep Turkey in the tournament.
Fired up by this goal, Turkey were determined to keep
Gómez and Wanchope away from shooting positions and the slightly injured Rustu played his
part in keeping a possible equaliser out.
-- GOAL -- 1-1
Costa Rica brought on two strikers for the last thirteen minutes, and it paid off as Winston
Parks capitalised on a rare positioning error from Rustu.... and with no
defenders keeping an eye on him, equalised for Costa Rica.
Turkey lost their heads again, with a few minutes left, as
Emre Belozoglu pushed someone from the Costa Rica bench in an attempt to get the ball for
a quick throw-in...... and both sides nearly came to blows in a crowded confusion between
the benches.
Parks almost sealed the game right at the end, which would
have sent Turkey home.... where some might say they deserve to be if they can't keep their
cool when they concede a goal.
Player of the Match:
Rustu Recber would have been candidate for player of the match but hesitated when the
cross came in that led to Costa Rica's equaliser.
