Goal

List of goalscorers

0 - 1
56'
A. Kolarov
Press

Match report in news

End of match

End of match

  • 97'
    FT: Costa Rica 0 - 1 Serbia!! And the full-time whistle finally goes with the Serbian players celebrating jubilantly. They've secured all three points in their first World Cup match as an independent nation thanks to a sensational free-kick by veteran Aleksandr Kolarov!
  • 96'
    The referee has gone to VAR to see an altercation between Prijovic and Acosta. Prijovic had caught the Costa Rican defender in the face but the official judges it to be accidental.
  • 94'
    Bolanos stupidly remains in an offside position for the free-kick and is subsequently flagged before he can fire home a deflection. He missed anyway if it's a small consolation...
  • 93'
    And frustrations boil over at the Cosmos. Matic goes to get the ball to hold up time but the one of the Costa Rican coaching staff is having none of it and a small scruffle breaks out on the touch-line. The referees deal well with the situation and there is no further action taken.
  • 93'
    Kostic had an empty net to aim up as Navas was far up the pitch but the forward completely messed it up!!
  • 92'
    Kolarov gifts Costa Rica a corner. Serbia clear and go on a deadly break.
  • 90'
    Five minutes added on at the Cosmos for Costa Rica to try and find a late equaliser.
  • 90'
    Kostic fires a shot at goal but it too goes way over the crossbar.
Substitution

Substitution

at Serbia
  • 89'
    Final substitution for Serbia: Mitrovic off, Prijovic on.
  • 87'
    Oh Mitrovic you really should have done better there!! The striker got onto a ball in the box but his balance was all off and a slight touch from Gonzalez sent him crashing to the floor. He appealed for a penalty but it would have been very soft! Referee waves play on..
  • 85'
    Time is really starting to run out for Costa Rica and it looks like it will be difficult for the Central American side to recreate their sensational run four years earlier.
Substitution

Substitution

at Serbia
  • 82'
    Serbia make their second substitution: Tadic off, Rukavina on - a sensible defensive change.
  • 78'
    Serbia's defensive line is holding very strong and Costa Rica are finding it difficult to penetrate. Even long-range shots are being blocked.
  • 76'
    SAVE!! Tadic fires a dangerous ball across goal and Navas gets an important hand to steer it away from Kostic who otherwise would have had an easy tap-in.
  • 75'
    Sergej has a crack at goal from range but he cuts across the shot and it ends up way wide of the target.
  • 73'
    Serbia are dealing well with all the threats at the moment but Costa Rica's two substitutions: Bolanos and Campbell have certainly added a new dimension to the game.
  • 72'
    Costa make their final change: Guzman off, Colindres on.
  • 72'
    Campbell beat the offside trap and was through on goal but Milenkovic recovered well and tussled well to usher the ball out for a corner.
  • 72'
    It's an inviting ball by Campbell but Serbia cope well with the threat.
  • 71'
    Milenkovic pulls down Campbell and Costa Rica have a good opportunity, 25 yards out off to the left.
  • 69'
    Serbia now make their first substitution: Ljajic off, Kostic on.
Substitution

Substitution

at Costa Rica
  • 67'
    Costa Rica make another change: Urena off, Campbell on.
  • 66'
    Ivanovic lofts in a decent ball to Sergej but the midfielder's header is poor and it bounces out for a free-kick.
  • 63'
    Bolanos has looked lively since coming on but Costa Rica will need to work as a team to break down this Serbian defence.
  • 61'
    'Los Ticos' try to immediately hit back with the set-piece but it's fired right at Stojkovic.
  • 59'
    Costa Rica take the break to make a change. Venegas off, Bolanos on.
Card

Yellow card

a Serbia
  • 59'
    Ivanovic is booked for a sliding challenge which saw him get none of the ball.
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Serbia en el 56'
  • 56'
    GOAL!! SERBIA!! Kolarov hits a stunning free-kick over the wall and inside the near post. It's pin-point and leaves Navas with no hope of saving!! 1-0!!
  • 55'
    Guzman is booked for an intentional block on Mitrovic. Serbia have a free-kick 25 yards out, just off from the dee.
  • 54'
    Mitrovic cannot direct his header on goal and his appeals for a penalty also fall on deaf eyes.
  • 54'
    Calvo heads out a high dangerous cross for a Serbia corner.
  • 53'
    Guzman leaves a foot in on Sergej. Probably payback for that earlier challenge...
  • 50'
    SAVE!! Mitrovic beats the offside trap and is through on goal but Navas stands strong and blocks the resulting shot, ushering it out of play for a Serbia corner!
  • 47'
    Sergej is lucky to escape a booking for a late challenge on Guzman.
  • 46'
    Costa Rica get the second half underway! No changes for either team.
  • 45'
    HT: Costa Rica 0 - 0 Serbia! It's been a fascinating first half of football with clear attacking intent from both sides but there is nothing to separate them at the break. We are goalless at the Cosmos.
  • 45'
    Two minutes added on at the Cosmos.
  • 43'
    Sergej appears to beat the offside trap and attempts a bicycle kick at goal. It lacks power and Navas does well to get down to save the shot. The linesman waves his flag for offside but replays show Sergej was onside!
  • 42'
    CLOSE! Calvo skips past a Serbia defender with the ball to open up space to shot but his shot whistles past the near post!
  • 40'
    The corner is headed away by Serbia who try to go on a quick counter but run into trouble in the middle of the park.
  • 40'
    Calvo wins a corner for Costa Rica.
  • 39'
    Urena picks up the ball just outside the area and tries his luck from range but he cuts across his shot and it flies widely off target.
  • 36'
    An aerial duel between Tosic and Acosta leaves both players in a heap on the floor needing treatment. Both are okay to continue.
  • 33'
    Venegas appears to have picked up a knock for Costa Rica but he is trying to play through at the moment.
  • 31'
    Tadic is given the ball on the right to cross in but his touch is poor and Costa Rica captialise, drawing a foul from the Southampton forward.
  • 27'
    CHANCE!! A ball over-the-top cuts open the Costa Rican defence and Milinkovic-Savic is through on goal. The pass was difficult to bring down and the bobbling meant Savic's shot lacked power, allowing Navas to come out and save.
  • 26'
    Cost Rica nearly shoot themselves in the foot by allowing Mitrovic to bring down a ball in the box but they recover well and press the striker off the ball to clear.
  • 24'
    Tadic does well to get in behind the Costa Rican defence and latch onto a pass but his hooked shot fires over the goal and gives the opposition an opportunity to counter.
  • 21'
    Calvo is the first player to be booked for sliding in late on Tadic. Right call.
  • 19'
    The European side do just that but after a few headers, Costa Rica eventually clear.
  • 18'
    Serbia win a free-kick 40 yards out. Great opportunity to fire it into the box.
  • 15'
    CLOSE!! Ivanovic drills a low cross along the face of goal and Navas gets an important hand to parry it away from the poaching Mitrovic!
  • 13'
    Serbia go straight down the other end and give Mitrovic an opportunity on goal but the striker fires his effort right at Navas.
  • 12'
    MISS!! They take a short corner to allow Urena a better angle to float it in and it's an inviting ball which takes out all of Serbia's defence. Gonzalez is free and has time to direct his header on goal but he panicks and sends it high of the crossbar!
  • 11'
    Calvo tries to whip in a cross from the left but it's well blocked by Serbia. Costa Rica corner.
  • 8'
    Kolarov tries to curl in a cross but it ends up a low shot which flies wide of the far post.
  • 7'
    Serbia are enjoying a spell of possession at the moment as they try and gain some composure after that electric start from both sides.
  • 5'
    Ljajic overhits the set-piece though and it's a chance wasted by the European side.
  • 4'
    Another Serbia corner. It's been attack attack attack from both sides so far. Great to see.
  • 3'
    'Los Ticos' move the ball around well before whipping the ball into Gonzalez in the box but his header is weak and it's an easy catch for Stojkovic.
  • 2'
    Now Costa Rica have a corner after a pass to Urena is ushered out by Kolarov.
  • 2'
    Mitrovic lands a head on the corner but he cannot direct it on target. Electric start from the European side.
  • 1'
    Early corner for Serbia after Mitrovic nearly scored from the start!
  • 1'
    Serbia get the game underway!
Start of match

Start of match

  • PRVW
    Reports from the warm-up suggests Serbia's captain Aleksandr Kolarov gave himself a slight injury but he's been given the all-clear to start. Could be worth keeping an eye on how he plays in the opening minutes.
  • PRVW
    The players leave the tunnel to a good atmosphere at the Cosmos. Next up: the national anthems.
  • PRVW
    Warm-ups are finishing at the Cosmos with just 15 minutes to go until kick-off!
  • PRVW
    Going into this fixture, Costa Rica are unbeaten in their last five World Cup games, which all came during that fabulous run in 2014. Can they recreate a similar performance in Russia?
  • PRVW
    Formation-wise, Costa Rica are lining up in a 5-4-1 and should be defensively robust, whereas Serbia will implement a 4-2-3-1 with a rather scary attack. It's set to be an interesting encounter..
  • PRVW
    Both teams field strong starting line-ups as they look to capitalise on not facing Brazil in their opening matches. Plenty of Premier League fans will recognise quite a few of the names in Serbia's XI while Costa Rica have the likes of Keylor Navas and Bryan Ruiz.
  • PRVW
    Serbia: Stojkovic; Tosic, Ivanovic, Kolarov (c), Milenkovic; Milivojevic, Milinkovic-Savic, Matic; Tadic, Ljajic, Mitrovic.
  • PRVW
    Costa Rica: Navas; Gamboa, Gonzalez, Acosta, Duarte, Calvo; Guzman, Borges; Venegas, Ruiz (c), Urena.
  • PRVW
    Costa Rica captain Bryan Ruiz analysed Group E ahead of their game: "This time it's going to be more difficult for us. Excluding Brazil who have a lot of power, the three teams (us, Switzerland and Serbia) will be fighting for the final position".
Info

Pre-match

17 June 2018, 14:00

Referee: Malang Diedhiou

Stadium: Solidarnost Samara Arena

  • PRVW
    Hello and welcome to the Group E clash between Costa Rica and Serbia. 'Los Ticos' enjoyed an unexpected run four years ago and will be hoping to recreate that performance in Russia while Serbia are taking part in their first World Cup since becoming an independent country.