Costa Rica beat Greece on penalties to go through to the World Cup quarter-final where the Netherlands are waiting.
Thiofanis Gekas missed the decisive spot kick after the game ended regular time at 1-1 and following the extra time.
Costa Rica took the lead only for Greece to level in the dying moments.
Bryan Ruiz scored early in the second period, netting after finding a rare pocket of space on the edge of the Greece penalty area.
Oscar Duarte was sent off shortly after the hour mark.
This was after picking up a second booking and Costa Rica almost held on, only for Sokratis to net in injury time.
Michael Umana netted the match-winning penalty after Gekas’ effort was saved by the excellent Keylor Navas, with Costa Rica winning the shootout 5-3.
Costa Rica returned Christian Bolanos and Umana to the side that drew with England, while Greece kept Andreas Samaris in the XI after he netted as a substitute against Ivory Coast.
Both the main forwards on show, Joel Campbell and Georgios Samaras, were frequently caught out by the opposition defence’s offside trap.
The assistant referees were busier than either goalkeeper in the first half.
Navas was eventually called into action, saving with his outstretched right foot from a Dimitris Salpingidis effort.
Ruiz swept home after Campbell and Bolanos linked up, the ball eventually finding the Fulham forward on the edge of the penalty area.
He left Osrestis Karnezis wrong-footed with a finish that was either precise or scuffed.
Costa Rica should have had a penalty shortly after going in front when Vasilis Torosidis used his hand to clear a cross with Bolanos lurking at the far post.
Costa Rica got a little luck when Kostas Mitroglou was unable to control a cross and Navas pounced on the loose ball but the scoreline was rarely threatened until Sokratis netted with seconds to go, pouncing on the loose ball after Navas’ save fell at his feet.
Mitroglou almost won the game in the 93rd minute but Navas produced a spectacular stop to send the game to extra time.
Extra time saw Greece put on the pressure, trying to make the extra man count.
They created some fair openings but didn’t put Navas under any real strain.
The deadlock couldn’t be broken without penalties and it was Navas’ strong hand to keep out Gekas’ well-struck effort that proved the difference.
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