Serbia hangs on against Costa Rica, wins 1-0 off beautiful strike from Kolarov
What a goal it was from Aleksandar Kolarov.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Serbia hang on to beat Costa Rica 1-0 on Sunday in their World Cup 2018 match. The difference came from a Aleksandar Kolarov free kick, which the defender blasted in the top right corner with a beautiful strike with his left foot.
The game was a physical, tense affair. Costa Rica’s Bryan Ruiz had chances to find his strikers in on goal, and Costa Rica looked much better in the second half when Joel Campbell entered the match.
Serbia had plenty of chances as well, though, with Sergej Milinković-Savić looking extremely dangerous in midfield and Aleksandar Mitrovic having several chances to score, just never being able to finish.
The game is a huge win for Serbia, who now sit atop Group E, with Brazil and Switzerland still to play later in the day in that group.
KOLAROV SCORES A BEAUTIFUL FREE KICK
PREVIEW
Costa Rica and Serbia will face off against one another on the fourth day of the 2018 World Cup on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 8 a.m. ET at Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, and you can watch the game on FOX or Telemundo. Online streaming is also available in English through FOX here or in Spanish through Telemundo here.
After a strong World Cup run in 2014 by making it to the quarterfinals, Costa Rica once again will look to have similar success. The team will turn to goalkeeper Keylor Navas as the core of Costa Rica’s defense. Nemanja Matic will be a key defensive midfielder for Serbia who will be looking to continue to showcase his abilities.
Lineups
Costa Rica vs. Serbia time, TV channel and streaming info
Time: 8 a.m. ET
Location: Samara Arena, Samara, Russia
TV: FOX, Telemundo
Streaming: Available for free with TV provider through FOX Sports Go (English) or Telemundo Deportes en vivo (Spanish). Also available on subscriptions services like Fubo and Hulu.
Odds: -0.25 Serbia (full odds at OddsShark)
Costa Rica vs. Serbia news to read before kickoff
Alright, I know the goal goes to Branislav Ivanović but can we appreciate all that we just saw from Serbia. Can we give everyone credit for an assist?
Four years after its run to the World Cup quarterfinals, Costa Rica returns to the world stage seeking to confirm its legitimacy. Eschewing the label of “fluky” and grabbing hold of the title of second-best team in North America after Mexico (and ahead of the United States) is the goal.
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