Those pesky Ticos were at it again on Saturday in the World Cup quarterfinals, taking the Netherlands to penalty kicks at the Arena Fonte Nova.
But an unorthodox goalkeeper substitution by Louis van Gaal allowed Tim Krul to be the hero in penalty kicks, stopping two Costa Rica shooters on way to a 0-0 (4-3) win and a spot alongside Argentina, Germany and Brazil in the semifinals.
The sixth 2014 World Cup match to go to extra time had plenty of thrilling moments, most of them coming courtesy of brilliant Levante keeper Keylor Navas.
Robin van Persie missed at least three gold chances. Wesley Sneijder hammered two shots off the woodwork. Arjen Robben was a dribbling mastermind (but infuriating embellisher), dancing through Costa Rica’s stingy defense. But he was unable to find his fourth goal of the tournament.
Costa Rica manager Jorge Luis Pinto continued his masterful job by removing Los Ticos from their full-attacking ways. Instead, the Costa Rican team played for the counter. When they did scoop up the ball, their transition was strong.
And van Gaal wasn’t about to be out-managed without doing something wild, pulling off Jasper Cillessen in the 122nd minute, moments after the keeper made a great save. It would be Newcastle United’s Tim Krul to face the firing line.
To kicks, where Borges made his and Van Persie followed. Krul stopped Ruiz, and Robben finished his chance. The Columbus Crew’s Giancarlo Gonzlez scored to put the burden to Sneijder, but the Dutchman scored, too.
Bolanos and Kuyt both finished, meaning Umana would have to succeed on his chance. He didn’t. Krul made the save. The Netherlands won.
How did we get there? Here’s what we were saying at halftime.
To the second half, where Bruno Martins Indi took down Joel Campbell inside the box -- and from behind -- as the clock neared 60, and the case could’ve been made for a penalty. Referee Ravshan Irmatov was not swayed, however.
Wesley Sneijder nearly broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute with a flash of a free kick that bent a bit too far, striking the post before being cleared.
And van Persie had multiple chances to win it in regulation, the most grievous miss coming on a super flub in the 89th minute. Sneijder’s cross was perfect, but RVP was anticipating contact and failed to connect with the ball.
And later, in the third of four minutes of stoppage time, van Persie’s would-be winner was denied by Yeltsin Tejeda. The Costa Rican defender was on the near post to deflect the ball off the bottom of the cross bar and out.
Extra time found more shining examples of Navas at work, as Robben’s corner kick met Sneijder on the doorstep. But Navas pushed it aside, but moments later it was fear for Los Ticos. The keeper landed on Dirk Kuyt after leaping to corral a corner and needed medical attention, yet stayed on.
Los Ticos made it through the first 15 minutes of stoppage time. Netherlands continued to push Navas, but with shots and physical contact. Substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar made contact with the keeper’s face and earned a yellow card.
Cillessen’s chance to be hero came in the 117th, when Urena broke through and ripped a low shot that the Dutch keeper booted away.
The 119th minute saw Sneijder put another shot off the bar. Wow.
In strode Krul for Cillessen and then came kicks.
Lineups
Netherlands: Cillessen, Vlaar, De Vrij, Martins Indi (Huntelaar, 106'), Blind, Van Persie (c), Sneijder, Robben, Kuyt, Wijnaldum, Depay (Lens, 76')
Costa Rica: Navas, Acosta, Gonzalez, Umana, Borges, Bolanos, Campbell (Urena, 65'), Ruiz (c), Diaz, Gamboa (Murie, 78'), Tejeda (Cubero, 96')