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Key moments
- 11:51 PM ET90'Full-time
- 11:42 PM ET83'Goal by San José
- 11:36 PM ET78'Goal by San José
- 11:25 PM ET65'Goal
- 11:21 PM ET60'Goal · Curaçao 3-1
- 10:49 PM ET45'Half-time
- 10:48 PM ET45'Goal · Costa Rica 3-0
- 10:46 PM ET43'Yellow card
- 10:40 PM ET38'Yellow card
- 10:28 PM ET23'Goal · Costa Rica 2-0
- 10:06 PM ET5'Goal · Costa Rica 1-0
Full-time in San José. A memorable and historic victory for Curaçao, who turned things around after a terrible first half to win 3-4 against a Costa Rican side that suffered a humiliating breakdown in front of their home fans.
Boos echo loudly through the stadium as frustration reaches a boiling point. To make matters worse, the Costa Rican fans are chanting ole in favor of Curaçao every time the visitors string passes together. A embarrassing second-half collapse from Baptista's side, completely unraveling after the break.
Goal!. Unbelievable and stunning turn of events in San José. Paulina scores to complete a heroic comeback for Curaçao. The goal originated down the left flank after a sharp driving run and a precise low cross into the heart of the box, where Paulina arrived completely unmarked to tap it home. Curaçao turns the match completely on its head, leading 4-3 after trailing by three goals.
Unbelievable turn of events in San José. Curaçao scores to complete an epic comeback. A long-range strike smashes against the post, and Gorré reacts quickest to convert the rebound all alone in the box, netting his second of the night. A total meltdown from Costa Rica after throwing away a three-goal lead.
Boos and whistles rain down from the stands at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium, thoroughly deserved given the team's passive display. Curaçao is now just one goal away from an equalizer, while Costa Rica shows no signs of reaction on the pitch, looking rattled and unable to halt the opposition's momentum.
The home goalkeeper feigns a muscle issue to waste valuable seconds and freeze the tempo of the match. The stoppage allows manager Baptista to issue urgent tactical instructions following Curaçao's double strike. A poor second-half display from Costa Rica, voluntarily sitting deep against an opponent lacking spark.
Goal! An incredible left-footed strike from Chong brings the visitors back within one goal. A sensational long-range effort that gives the goalkeeper no chance and pulls Curaçao right back into the contest. A stunning second-half fightback from the Caribbean team.
Curaçao pulls one back. Gorré finishes neatly inside the box following a brilliant attacking sequence and team combination down the flank. The visitors cut the deficit and offer a glimpse of the sharp form shown during the World Cup, clawing their way back into the match.
Curaçao earns just their second corner kick of the match, aiming to pull one back despite offering very little going forward. Costa Rica willingly surrenders control and possession, sitting comfortably in their shape while looking for space to launch a fast counter.
Early stages of the second half where Curaçao maintains possession of the ball, but looks utterly clueless on how to create real danger. The visiting side moves the ball around in their own half with zero penetration or vision to crack the home side's structure.
The second 45 minutes are underway at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa. Costa Rica will aim to sustain their dominance on the pitch and manage their comfortable lead, while Curaçao looks to restore some pride after a deeply troubling first half plagued by defensive errors.
End of the first half. Costa Rica holds a resounding 3-0 lead over a Curaçao side whose performance borders on the amateurish. A truly abysmal display by the visitors, raising serious questions considering they somehow managed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Costa Rica strikes for a third time. Mora finds the net once again just before the interval to effectively put this match to bed. Curaçao continues to show staggering defensive weakness, giving away endless space in their own box. A smooth 3-0 cushion for the hosts.
Over-dribbling out of the back leads to a costly turnover for Costa Rica, forcing Josimar Méndez to haul down his opponent with a clear tactical foul. The Tico attacker receives an undeniable yellow card for stopping a promising break for the Caribbean visitors.
The first booking of the match goes to Curaçao. Bacuna commits a tactical foul after giving the ball away in his own half, leaving him no option but to stop the counter-attack with a trip. The referee does not hesitate and shows the yellow card to the midfielder.
Curaçao attempts to mount a response after the set-back and earns a corner kick, their first from the flag in the match so far. The Caribbean side hopes to pull one back through a set-piece situation and work their way back into contention here on the pitch in San José.
Goal!. Costa Rica strikes again to double their lead following another massive mistake in the opposition box. Mora takes full advantage of Curaçao's defensive collapse and fires a lethal right-footed shot inside the area. The home side expands the gap and dominates completely.
These are highly critical moments for Curaçao on the pitch, displaying a fragile performance that borders on amateurish. The Caribbean side looks completely lost out there, making basic passing mistakes and giving away massive spaces to the Costa Rican attack right now.
Following that early setback, Curaçao appears completely stunned on the pitch and struggles to gain control of the ball. The visiting side clearly feels the blow of the opening goal, while Costa Rica calmly dictates the tempo and controls every sequence of play now.
Goal for Costa Rica! A brilliant right-footed strike from Sinclair finds the back of the net to open the scoring. The stadium explodes as the Ticos take the lead following a clinically taken finish by their forward. What a explosive opening performance here in San José!
The action is underway in San José! The clash between Costa Rica and Curaçao is now at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, closing out the opening matchday of the CONCACAF Nations League. A thrilling contest lies ahead on the pitch. Follow every single play right here!
VAVEL Minute-by-Minute
We now begin our coverage with all the incidents, best plays and latest updates from the match between Costa Rica and Curacao. Stay tuned to VAVEL for the Minute-by-Minute coverage of the first matchday of the 2026/27 CONCACAF Nations League.
The teams are warming up
The players from Costa Rica and Curacao are already carrying out their pre-match exercises on the pitch at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma. Physical work and ball movements mark the countdown to the start of the match.
Curacao's starting lineup
Dick Advocaat will look for a compact team, with pace on the wings and the ability to exploit spaces on the counterattack. La Familia Azul will try to remain organized and take advantage of the individual talent of their attacking players.
Costa Rica's starting lineup
Fernando Batista will look for a balanced team, with a strong presence in midfield and width to create attacking opportunities. La Sele will try to control possession and find spaces against Curacao's defensive block.
The stage is set
Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma is ready to host this CONCACAF Nations League clash. Costa Rican fans are looking forward to supporting La Sele at the beginning of a new era, while Curacao will look to cause an upset on the road.
Player to watch for Curacao
Tahith Chong will be one of the main threats for the visitors. The winger, who came through the Manchester United academy and has experience in English football, stands out for his ability in one-on-one situations and his capacity to appear both on the wing and through the inside channels.
Player to watch for Costa Rica
Orlando Galo will be one of the players to watch for the home side. The captain provides balance in midfield, with the ability to recover possession, stop opposition transitions and deliver a clean first pass to start Costa Rica's attacks.
Curacao wants to show what it learned at the World Cup
La Familia Azul continues with the experience of Dick Advocaat on the bench following their historic World Cup debut. Curacao has a squad that combines international experience with players who have played in Europe, looking to begin the Nations League with a positive result.
Costa Rica looks to begin a new era
Fernando Batista's team enters this match looking to make a positive start to its new process. The absence of Manfred Ugalde will be one of the team's setbacks for this game, while Orlando Galo will once again play an important role as captain and midfield leader.
Refereeing team
Mario Escobar will be the main referee, accompanied by Luis Ventura and Humberto Panjoj as assistant referees. Walter Lopez will serve as the fourth official. The entire refereeing team is from Guatemala.
A clash to start on the right foot
Costa Rica begins a new era under the management of Fernando "Bocha" Batista, with the mission of rebuilding confidence after missing out on the 2026 World Cup. La Sele will look to take advantage of home-field advantage and the support of its fans.
Curacao, coached by Dick Advocaat, arrives with the experience of having played in their first-ever World Cup. La Familia Azul will look to bring that experience into the start of a new Nations League campaign.
Curaçao staged an unforgettable comeback in San José, beating Costa Rica 3-4 after trailing by three goals. Carlos Mora scored a hat-trick for the hosts, but Gorré, Chong, and Paulina sealed a historic second-half turnaround.