Published: 18:25, July 3, 2024
Costa Rica beat Paraguay but exit Copa America as Colombia, Brazil advance
By Reuters
Paraguay forward Ramón Sosa (24) and Costa Rica defender Jeyland Mitchell (3) go for the ball during a Copa America Group D soccer match between Costa Rica and Paraguay, July 2, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (PHOTO / AP) 

AUSTIN, Texas - Costa Rica scored two early goals to beat Paraguay 2-1 in their final Copa America Group D match on Tuesday but failed to move into the quarter-finals after finishing third following Brazil's 1-1 draw with Colombia.

Colombia finished as group winners with seven points while Brazil also advanced as runners-up with five. Costa Rica return home with four points while Paraguay exit after three losses.

READ MORE: Copa America hosts US eliminated after 1-0 defeat by Uruguay

"This was a very tough group. We were playing against Brazil and Colombia, two of the four favorites to win the Copa," Costa Rica coach Gustavo Alfaro told reporters.

"We had our strengths, our achievements and our mistakes, but we grew and we're analyzing the performance rather than the results.

"The important thing is that we learn and that this was a very short tournament that we had to seize to the fullest."

Costa Rica needed results to go their way along with a big swing in goal difference to qualify and they wasted no time getting on the board when skipper Francisco Calvo and Josimar Alcocer made it 2-0 inside seven minutes.

Costa Rica defender Orlando Galo (14) is tripped by Paraguay defender Néstor Giménez (13) during the second half of a Copa America Group D soccer match between Costa Rica and Paraguay, July 2, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (PHOTO / AP)

Calvo headed home from the edge of the six-yard box in the third minute while 19-year-old Alcocer powered past several players before pulling the trigger from well outside the box to beat the keeper.

But Paraguay came to life in the second half and Costa Rica's hopes of qualifying dwindled 10 minutes after the restart when Ramon Sosa scored his first goal for his country.

READ MORE: Panama beat Bolivia to reach Copa quarterfinals, US out

Costa Rica's defense could do nothing as Mathias Villasanti dribbled into the box and set up Sosa, who blasted the ball into the top corner past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira.

Costa Rica nearly conceded again from a corner in added time, the ball deflecting off Fabian Balbuena's head to Angel Romero but his shot failed to make it past the fingertips of Sequeira.

READ MORE: Martinez double powers Argentina to top of Copa America Group A

It marked the first time since 1925 that Paraguay had lost all of their group matches.

"It was a bad tournament, a bad performance," coach Daniel Garnero said.

Speaking about his future, he added: "I am here because the association requested my services and if they don't want me to continue, that is their decision. I'll have to discuss that with them."