Recife (Brazil), June 30: Ten-man Costa Rica defeated Greece 5-3 on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2014 Fifa World Cup. Costa Rica will face the Netherlands, who knocked out Mexico 2-1 earlier in the day, in the last eight.

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[Read: Netherlands defeat Mexico 2-1 to reach quarters]

The Costa Ricans were put ahead by captain Bryan Ruiz, who scored his second goal of the tournament, in the 52nd minute. An equalizer by Sokratis Papasthathopoulos with just a few minutes remaining in the match brought the Greeks back into the match and there were speculations whether the latter would pull off another dramatic win like they did against Ivory Coast the other night.

Costa Rica will face the Netherlands in the quarters on July 5

The fact that Costa Rica were reduced to 10 men also raised Greece's chances in the extra-time. But Costa Rica held on to deny Greece any opening and the match remained tied at the end of the extra time.

Both teams also began their penalties well till Fanis Gekas missed Greece's fourth shot which was saved by Costa Rican goalkeeper Keilor Navas and with Umana scoring the fifth on the trot for Costa Rica, the central American sides stormed into the quarter finals, something they have never done before in World cup football.

PENALTY SHOOT-OUT: WHO HIT, WHO MISSED
Costa Rica: Celso Borges, Bryan Ruiz, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Joel Campbell and Umana scored.

Greece: Konstantinos Mitroglou, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos and Jose Holebas scored. Theofanis Gekas missed.

Greece, who were at the dictator's end the other night after managing a dramatic victory against Ivory Coast, were clearly dejected on Saturday the loss put an end to their World Cup campaign in 2014.

Oneindia News

(With PTI inputs)