San José watched a familiar home comfort turn into a long Caribbean night at the Ricardo Saprissa, where Costa Rica let a three-goal interval lead disappear before Curaçao completed a remarkable 4-3 Concacaf Nations League victory.
Fernando Batista’s side had returned to competitive action with the sort of start that seemed built to settle the occasion. Costa Rica pressed high from the opening minutes and found Curaçao unable to establish much threat before the break. The first reward arrived after only three minutes: a recovery deep in visiting territory released Orlando Sinclair, who faced Eloy Room and finished for the opener.
The home side continued to dictate the first half, and Carlos Mora, of Universitatea Craiova, doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute. Mora struck again shortly before half-time to make it 3-0, completing his brace and sending Costa Rica into the dressing room with the stadium firmly behind them.
A Caribbean comeback in San José
The second half belonged to Curaçao. The visitors pushed their defensive line forward, pressed with greater conviction and gradually drew Costa Rica into an increasingly uncomfortable contest. Kenji Gorré provided the first response with Curaçao’s opening goal, before substitute Tahith Chong reduced the gap further to 3-2.
What had felt like a routine home win became tense throughout the Saprissa. Costa Rica could not regain their earlier authority, and Gorré scored again in the 78th minute to level the match and erase the entire three-goal deficit in less than one half.
Curaçao then found the decisive moment five minutes later. Jordi Paulina was left unmarked in the penalty area and scored the visitors’ fourth goal in the 83rd minute, putting them ahead for the first time on an evening that had begun so differently.
The shift in mood around La Cueva was immediate. Some Costa Rica supporters responded with “olé” chants aimed at their own team, while frustration was also directed towards Batista. From 3-0 up at the interval, the hosts had fallen 4-3 in their Nations League opener.
There is little room for reflection before the next crossing of the region. Costa Rica are due to travel to Kingston to face Haiti next Sunday, carrying the memory of a match that moved from command to collapse in 45 second-half minutes.
