World Cup

[monks data]

Attendance: 41,242

World Cup | Round of 16

Jun 29, 2014 at 9pm UK

Costa Rica
1-1
Greece

Ruiz (52')
Duarte (66')

FT
(aet)

Papastathopoulos (90+1')

Costa Rica win 5-3 on penalties

Half-Time Report: Costa Rica, Greece goalless at interval

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 29 June 2014

Costa Rica and Greece play out a goalless first half in Recife in their World Cup last-16 meeting.

Costa Rica and Greece are all square in their World Cup last-16 clash following a low-key first half at the Arena Pernambuco.

Greece's forward Georgios Samaras vies with Costa Rica's midfielder Celso Borges and Costa Rica's defender Oscar Duarte during a Round of 16 football match between Costa Rica and Greece at Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June © Getty Images

It was the Central Americans who managed to get away the first shot of the night, with Bryan Ruiz sliding a pass out to Christian Bolanos, whose effort from a tight angle flew over the bar on eight minutes.

Shortly after, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos beat two men as he cut inside from the left flank, before dragging his long-range attempt wide of the target.

Cristian Gamboa of Costa Rica tackles Lazaros Christodoulopoulos of Greece during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Round of 16 match between Costa Rica and Greece at Arena Pernambuco on June 29, 2014 © Getty Images

Greece started to enjoy more of the ball as the half progressed, and Giorgos Karagounis came close to opening the scoring when he struck the ball from 25 yards out, but Keylor Navas did well to handle just short of the half-hour mark.

Navas was called into action once more before the interval, this time to deny Dimitris Salpingidis's first-time finish at the back post with a superb stop to ensure that the scores remained level at the break.