Navas heroic in Costa Rica loss

Costa Rica played their first game in this World Cup Sunday and it was Serbia that awaited Keylor Navas and Costa Rica in Samara. Keylor Navas started the game in goal and it didn’t take long time before the Real Madrid goalkeeper had to step up for his country. Already after 15 minutes Navas had to make a save after a dangerous cross from Branislav Ivanovic. After around 30 minutes Navas had to pull out yet another save, this time from Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic Savic. The 23 year old received a good pass from Aleksandar Kolarov and fired away a shot, but Keylor Navas came up with yet another good save.

Right before half time Milinkovic Savic tested Navas yet again. This time he received a good cross and pulled of a bicycle kick, but Navas were lightning quick and saved his country yet again. Keylor Navas had much of the credit that the teams were even and that the score was 0-0 at half time. Just five minutes into the second half the 31 year old had to make yet another save. This time it was Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic that came one-on-one with the shot stopper. Navas won the battle with Mitrovic and pulled of a fantastic save.

However five minutes later Navas had to pull the ball out of his own net. Serbia got a freekick from around 25 meters and Aleksandar Kolarov stepped up. The AS Roma back banged the ball in the top right corner. Costa Rica fought to get the equalizer, but Navas and Costa Rica ended up losing their first World Cup match. The positive thing for Navas was that he was Costa Rica’s best player and perhaps this makes Julen Lopetegui think twice before signing Alisson.