Lucky shot: Kolarov leads Serbia to victory

Thanks to the remarkable goal from distance in the 56th minute, Serbia put itself in a good position to advance in the difficult Group E with Brazil and Switzerland. It was only Serbia's second victory at a World Cup. The team from the former Yugoslavia had only won 1-0 against Germany eight years ago.

Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas had no chance with Kolarov's artificial shot. © APA/afp / FABRICE COFFRINI

The game Fears that both teams could rely primarily on a defensive approach were not confirmed. Already in the opening phase, the “Ticos” from Costa Rica, who had surprised by reaching the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago, had opportunities to take the lead with two headers from Giancarlo Gonzalez (3rd/12th). Played well: Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. © APA/afp / FABRICE COFFRINI

But the Serbs, whose captain Kolarov had declared the game “the most important game in our history for a long time,” also appeared refreshingly brisk. Nevertheless, the goal of the three-time Champions League winner and Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), who is revered as a national hero in his homeland, was not initially in serious danger. After the lively start to the game, the Serbs slowed down and tried to control the game through more possession. As a result, the level of play suffered in the minutes before the break. Roma legionnaire brings the decision Shortly after the restart, however, the “White Eagles” were really close to taking the lead for the first time. But Aleksandar Mitrovic (50th), who scored three times in the dress rehearsal against Bolivia, was denied by Navas. Nevertheless, a goal from the Serbs was in the air. And Kolarov (AS Roma) actually broke the spell. In the style of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), he rewarded his team for their more courageous performance after the break with a remarkable free kick from distance.

The deserved victory was no longer in danger. In the final phase, the Serbs were closer to making it 2-0 than the Central Americans were to equalizing.

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Lucky shot: Kolarov leads Serbia to victory

An artificial shot from Serbia captain Aleksandar Kolarov dampened Costa Rica's hopes of another World Cup surprise early on. Mladen Krstajic's team deservedly won 41-432 (2014-1) against the 0 quarter-finalists on Sunday in front of 0 spectators in Samara.

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