San José watched a commanding Costa Rica lead dissolve into one of Curaçao’s most striking away wins, as Dick Advocaat’s side overturned a three-goal deficit to win 4-3 at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in the opening round of the Concacaf Nations League.
Fernando Batista’s Costa Rica appeared settled after a ruthless first half, with Orlando Sinclair scoring his first international goal and Carlos Mora adding two more. But three Curaçao substitutes introduced in the 57th minute transformed the contest and exposed a home side that lost its structure after the interval.
Quick facts
- Curaçao recovered from 3-0 down to defeat Costa Rica 4-3 in San José.
- Orlando Sinclair scored in the third minute; Carlos Mora struck in the 23rd and 45th minutes.
- Kenji Gorré scored twice for Curaçao, while Tahith Chong and Jordi Paulina also found the net.
- Curaçao, Haiti and the Dominican Republic each have three points in Group A.
- The top two teams progress to the Nations League quarter-finals.
Costa Rica made the perfect start when Sinclair received the ball in the penalty area and drove a powerful angled shot beyond Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room. It was the forward’s first goal for the national team.
Curaçao had shown poise in possession under Dutch coach Advocaat, moving the ball cleanly and using the pace of their wide players. Costa Rica, however, were compact without the ball and decisive when opportunities arrived.
Mora, who plays club football for Romania’s Universitatea Craiova, punished a defensive mistake for the second goal. He intercepted a poor pass near the Curaçao box and finished precisely beyond Room in the 23rd minute.
Just before half-time, Mora struck again from the edge of the area, sending a cross-field effort into the net for 3-0. At that point, the match seemed beyond Curaçao’s reach.
Advocaat responded quickly after the restart, sending Chong, Paulina and Gorré on in the 57th minute. The three replacements brought a different energy, combining around the Costa Rican area and unsettling the defence.
Gorré began the recovery in the 62nd minute, before Chong produced an impressive strike from outside the area four minutes later. Costa Rica’s earlier control had vanished, while Curaçao rediscovered the confident, attacking football that carried them to their first World Cup qualification in 2026.
The visitors were close to levelling in the 75th minute when Obispo missed a header from close range. They did not have to wait long: Gorré scored again three minutes later after the ball rebounded off the post, finishing from close range to make it 3-3.
With Costa Rica short of ideas and unable to regain control, Curaçao pressed on for a winner. Paulina completed the turnaround in the 83rd minute, meeting a cross inside the six-yard area after a flowing team move.
The result leaves Curaçao level with Haiti and the Dominican Republic on three points at the top of Group A. Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Trinidad and Tobago remain without a point.
Each team plays four group matches, split between two home fixtures and two away trips. The first two places in the section will advance to the quarter-finals.
