Portland Timbers midfielder David Guzman (pictured above) and LAFC striker Marco Ureña got their second-straight starts for Costa Rica in their World Cup Group E duel with Brazil on Friday, while Minnesota United captain Francisco Calvo came off the bench for Los Ticos as they worked mightily to stymie the heavily-favored five-time world champions.
Despite an incredible defensive effort over 90 minutes, the underdogs were undone in heartbreaking fashion in the game's dying moments as Philippe Coutinho and Neymar scored stoppage-time goals to bank a 2-0 win for Brazil in St. Petersburg.
Guzman logged 83 minutes of hard running in his usual central-midfield tasking before making way for Yeltsin Tejeda, while Ureña, the lone frontrunner in Costa Rica's 5-4-1 shape, was replaced by former Vancouver Whitecap Christian Bolaños in the 54th. Calvo entered in place of Cristian Gamboa on the left wing in the 75th. Rodney Wallace and Kendall Waston were unused substitutes.
Costa Rica's second loss of the tournament eliminates them from contention for advancement to the knockout stages, though they can still play a role in the group's final standings when they conclude their slate vs. Switzerland in Nizhny Novgorod on Wednesday.
