Despite their great defensive work throughout, Costa Rica crashed out of the World Cup tonight thanks to Brazil's 1-0 win, courtesy of Raquel Fernandes' 83rd minute goal.
This, coupled with Korea's 2-1 win over Spain, meant they finished third in the group with two points, which was not enough to secure one of the best third-placed spots to advance into the last 16.
As mentioned in the preview for this game, the predictions really rested heavily on the teams put out by each side, though especially the 11 to be deployed by Brazil. Numerous changes and a weakened squad was expected from them, having already clinched their place in the last 16, and this is exactly what we saw.
Brazil made six changes in personnel to the team that lined up against Spain, with Marta and Formiga the big names missing. Fabiana, Thaisa, Andressa Alves and Cristiane were the other four players replaced, with Poliana, Raquel Fernandes, Maurine, Rosana, Gabriela and Darlene all getting starts in a very different team. Still, they would be tough to face, each player bidding for a place in the team that will play in the knockout round and hoping to take their chance tonight.
Costa Rica, on the other hand, did not make any alterations in terms of names to the team that drew with Korea, though they did make a big tactical adjustment as they set up in a more attacking 4-3-3 formation, switching from the 4-5-1 that they have used so far in the tournament. With a place in the next round on offer, they were clearly ready for the opportunity to grab it, as opposed to trying to play for a point that could give them a slender chance of progressing.
Victory would see them through with Brazil, whilst a point would too but only if Spain and Korea drew as well. Three points would be their main aim, as they would not want to rely on the other result, but this would not be easy.
Brazil dominate open stages
It was Brazil who started the brightest as Rosana rose highest to head a corner over the bar with less than three minutes on the clock. Despite plenty of changes to the team, they clearly had not lost their flair and positivity and were proving to be as big a threat as always going forward, though were sure to find Costa Rica's well organised defence a tough nut to crack.
However, the Central Americans almost breached Brazil's so far untroubled back line with just a few minutes on the clock, Cristin Granados looking to slip Maria Barrantes through on goal only to see Poliana make a crucial interception to thwart the potential threat, the back four quickly becoming a weaker and almost-exposed three due to Tamires' commitment to attacking.
A nervous moment down the other end followed quickly afterwards, Brazil breaking into the box but failing to get a shot off as the ball refused to sit up for their players, two of whom got ready to pull the trigger but just weren't allowed to make a connection.
As the ball broke loose in the area, Gabriela pounced onto it and went down under pressure from Diana Saenz, but the referee waved away her penalty appeals - and rightly so, as she dived to the ground without her opponent making any contact, replays cleared showed.
Attack after attack for Brazil
Monica would bundle Maurine's free kick wide with 17 minutes played, but a mix-up in Brazil's back line almost let Costa Rica in on the 20 minute mark, Barrantes ready to pounce as her opponents let a deep free-kick boucne in the box, but she was beaten to the ball by the grateful arms of Luciana.
Brazil had the ball in the back of the net on 23 minutes, a delicious move seeing Gabriela slipped in on the left hand side before thumping the ball into the top-corner emphatically, but the offside flag was there to deny her the opener in a very tight call.
The opening stages of the game were certainly very unsettled.
Brazil were seeing more of the ball in general, but they were struggling to break down Costa Rica, whilst the Central Americans threatened several times on the counter. Costa Rica could certainly take one positive so far though, as they had not yet conceded, making this the first game they had played this summer without letting a goal in during the first 25 minutes.
They almost took the lead as we surpassed this mark too, Shirley Cruz getting down the left wing and delivering a wonderful cross that perfectly found Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno, but her header was straight at Luciana who held well from close range. It was golden chance for the girl who scored against Spain last week, and one she would not want to regret missing come full time, but she failed to direct her effort anywhere but straight at the 'keeper.
If Costa Rica were to get a goal, they needed to continue to use the wings well, as Brazil were very exposed when they did, despite them deploying a back four with two traditional full-backs. Both Tamires and especially Poliana were reluctant to meet their progressing opponent out wide, choosing to sit back and let them run down the flank and get a cross in, and Costa Rica needed to make the most of this.
On the offensive, Brazil remained positive though and continued to create chances. A lovely ball forward from Monica just before the half hour mark found Darlene's pacey run, but her first time and powerful strike was held well by Diaz before she again threatened a few moments later with a curling effort that went just a yard wide of the 'keeper's far post.
In between these two chances came news from the other match in Group E, Spain having taken the lead against Korea, Veronica Boquete the scorer. This live score meant that a draw for Costa Rica would not be enough to qualify in second, and that Spain would instead advance to the next round.
Whether word of this reached Costa Rica on the pitch is unknown, but it certainly did not look like it had as they ended the first half under pressure. Poor communication in their defence almost allowed Brazil in on a couple of occasions in quick succession, defenders not listening to their goalkeeper's shouts as they cleared the ball only as far as Darlene, who produced a good stop out of Diaz.
Rosana would fire over from 20 yards, Darlene would fail to make contact crosses on two occasions and Rosana would see an effort blocked bravely by Saenz all before the half time whistle was blown to give Costa Rica some respite after a tough first half, albeit, one in which they had opportunities themselves.
Costa Rica would surely come out with a more adventurous mindset after the break, with them likely to be informed of the current score in the other game that meant they needed to win tonight. Brazil had seen 61 per cent of possession in the first half, and the Central Americans needed to change this in order for them to be able to create chances to score.
They were making good progress on the wings and this should have been pointed out and targeted, as it was a rare weakness in an otherwise formidable opponent.
Darlene needed to be controlled more too, to prevent her from being a huge threat, as she was getting into good areas constantly, and the defenders needed to listen to their goalkeeper, who was shouting for the ball but seeing her teammates still go for it.
As for Brazil, more of the same would surely see them take the lead sooner rather than later. Diaz was the only thing standing in between them and three points at the moment, her saves being extremely significant in the match thus far as she was keeping her team in it. Despite various changes to the line up, Vadao, the manager, would be thrilled to see that his team had not lost their creativity and high intensity in the final third.
Sluggish start to the second half
The Brazilians did not begin the second half as brightly as they did the first though, Raquel Fernandes' volley from distance after six minutes the only noteworthy action of the opening stages, and this was straight down the throat of Diaz.
A promising bit of build up play occurred for Costa Rica as we approached the hour, and around the same time news broke that Korea had equalised in the other game, meaning that Costa Rica were back in second in the group and through to the knockout stages, as things stood.
Still, Amelia Valverde, the Costa Rican manager, made a positive change moments later as she brought on Carolina Venegas for Granados, clearly not taking the draw and hoping for her team to push on and find a goal. Brazil made their own substitution in response, bringing on Beatriz for Darlene, who had had a superb hour or so in which she had been extremely lively, and her withdrawal from the game would surely be a huge relief for Costa Rica's defence.
Beatriz, however, should have given her side the lead just three minutes after she entered the fray. Having made a great run down the left, the substitute was played through on goal by Raquel Fernandes, but her shot was straight at Diaz who was able to comfortably parry it over the bar.
The 'keeper was called into action once again with 67 minutes on the clock, denying Rosana from point blank range with a marvellous reflex save after the Brazilian directed Poliana's cross goalwards. Diaz was keeping her team in the game, but needed them to work at the other end to ensure a last 16 place.
Through balls were Costa Rica's main source of offensive threat, but Brazil's defenders had the pace and strength to beat them to the passes nearly every time. Many of these were being executed by Cruz, who was getting more and more involved as the game progressed, increasing Costa Rica's hopes of a result.
The PSG midfielder was pulling all the strings as her side looked to sneak a goal, picking up the ball everywhere - deep in midfield, out wide and in the box - as she tried to get her side on the ball and in possession as much as possible. Her influence was having a telling affect too, with Costa Rica looking strong in all areas as the final 10 minutes approached.
At the other end though, Carol Sanchez almost let Brazil in as she played a very weak headed back pass to Diaz which Raquel Fernandes latched onto, but her attempted lob over the 'keeper lacked conviction, allowing her to claim it with two strong hands quite comfortably. The frustration from the Brazilian bench as this chance was wasted was great to see though, with them not happy with the draw and desperate to take a 100 per cent record into the last 16.
News from the other game crept in soon after too with Korea having taken the lead against Spain, launching themselves into second place and the next round, with Costa Rica crashing out as it stood.
They had 10 minutes to change this, but remained under the cosh at times as Raquel Fernandes struck powerfully at goal, seeing Diaz deny her, but only temporarily as the 83rd minute saw Andressa play the midfielder through on goal and she made no mistake this time with a clinical finish to put Brazil in the lead late on. This rubbed the salt in their opponents' wounds, with Costa Rica now needing to score and also needing Spain to score if they were to progress.
A glorious chance came in the 88th minute for Costa Rica to achieve at least half of what was required, Cruz bursting through and squaring for Melissa Hererra, but she was blocked off well by both Tamires and Andressa, allowing the ball to run through to Luciana to thwart the potential threat.
The final few minutes ticked by with little occurring, but the final whistle brought with it plenty of tears and disappointment for the Costa Ricans, who had fought valiantly and turned plenty of heads in Canada this summer.
Players like Dinnia Diaz, Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno, Lixy Rodriguez, Katherine Alvarado and Maria Barrantes are likely to have attracted the attention of many as well and are just a handful of names who could have earned themselves moves abroad as a result of their fantastic displays this summer.
Brazil, on the other hand, head into the group stages as one of just two teams, the other being reigning champions Japan, who have taken nine points from their three group games, which sends out a real message to the rest of the last 16. They have not been explosive, but they have been consistent and, consequently, remain one of the big favourites to go all the way.