Costa Rica v Scotland Group C 11-06-1990
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00:00Mo Johnston, just a week ago it looked as though he wouldn't even be here because of
00:06that stomach injury, but now he lines up and a lot of Scottish hopes will rest on his shoulders.
00:11So it'll be Scotland in their changed jerseys of yellow and white and the dark blue shorts
00:17who get this match underway in bright, warm sunshine here in Genoa and all of Scotland
00:25will be praying that they don't make the mistakes that they have made in previous World Cups
00:29against apparently inferior opposition. Costa Rica in the red jerseys and white shorts.
00:35This is little Ramirez, the number 10. Flores, the captain.
00:44And at centre back, Montero.
00:50Alan McAnally with the first important interception and indeed the recipients of the first
00:55dubious challenge as well. The referee has allowed play to go on. McAnally's tough physical style
01:05could be a big help to the Scots today. The Costa Ricans won't like him.
01:09Nicoliches' clearance finds Johnston, who in turn finds McAnally.
01:14McAnally's done well here, showing his strength and that was good goalkeeping,
01:17although in the end it took two steps by Paneo to hold on to the ball.
01:21Good start for Scotland. McAnally looking good down the left.
01:26Cayasso in possession for Costa Rica. Number four is Gonzalez.
01:34A long ball forward for the little figure of Jara to chase, but well met by McPherson
01:42and Malpas prevented the throw. Billy McNeil alongside me today.
01:48Billy, we've heard your views before the game, but I think that little cross from McAnally
01:52proved one of the routes to success here for Scotland.
01:55Yes, I think we appreciate that start. Certainly looking at the team, there's a fair bit of aerial power in the team.
02:04I think the theory is that Costa Rica are a little bit short in that department.
02:08We've got more than a few players that can put the ball in the head here.
02:12We've got more than a few players that can put the ball in the head here.
02:16I'm certainly hoping that we can put ourselves in a position to provide some good crosses.
02:24Marchena, the tall centre-back, out to Chavarria on the right. Gomez in possession.
02:32Free kick to Costa Rica. Foul by Ginbeth.
02:36Taking short to Monteiro, then Caillasso takes over.
02:46Jara. Jara did well there, but again Scotland had the extra man.
02:54I must say against Wales in that friendly I was mentioning, the Costa Ricans hardly mounted a worthwhile attack
03:00and they certainly didn't look a strong team going forward.
03:03Indeed the main danger to Wales that day came when the Costa Ricans won corners or free kicks.
03:09Otherwise in open play they didn't look that impressive.
03:13But that was another day. Chavez has lost possession to McStay.
03:19McNally let it run through and Scotland a bit fortunate to get the throw.
03:25Great roars from this huge Scottish contingent of fans, but they win back possession.
03:33Ginbeth.
03:37Everyone well marked inside the Costa Rican half, they're certainly good at that, man-for-man marking.
03:43They've got the sweep of Flores as well, it'll be difficult to break down.
03:47Bett.
03:49Very little space when you reach the real danger area, but that's a good ball in for Aitken.
03:55Not a bad effort.
03:57Tremendous shot by the Scottish captain, Roy Aitken.
04:03And perhaps that's what it needed.
04:05With all options closed down because of the tight marking, Aitken went for the top corner
04:11and wasn't far away in the box that really could turn the key for Scotland.
04:19McCall with the throw. Gough got up well.
04:23Montero just headed it clear with Johnson right behind him.
04:27McCall again, onto McNally.
04:31Scots have got a free kick out of that, indeed they have.
04:37Costa Ricans complaining that there was nothing wrong with the challenge,
04:41but McNally knows that Scotland have the free kick and goes to take his place in the centre.
04:46Oxtay will take it.
04:48Persson, Gough, McNally himself and Johnson all lining up in the penalty area for Scotland here.
05:01Oh, it was Gough who let in.
05:06Richard Gough, who is so dangerous in situations like that,
05:11dived full length and headed it inches over the bar.
05:20Malpas calling for the ball out on the left, but it hasn't been seen as yet.
05:24It's totally unmarked, but very, very wide on the touchline.
05:28Higgins hitting Mo Johnson instead, who finds McCall.
05:32Back it goes to Johnson.
05:34McCall. Not a bad effort by Stuart McCall.
05:38Came to him a little bit awkwardly. Had to snatch at it.
05:44A real late inclusion into the Scottish line-up.
05:48He only won his first cap earlier this season.
05:50Could have been playing for England, dare I say it.
05:52Costa Ricans can't get out.
05:54McCall.
05:58Persson.
06:01Oxtay.
06:03On to Aitken.
06:05To McNally, rather.
06:10Oxtay.
06:12This is Aitken.
06:14That's all he's going for.
06:16Johnson.
06:21Mo Johnson had the chance to give Scotland the lead there.
06:27But Luis Cornejo made a very good save.
06:32Goff had stolen forward into that advanced position.
06:36Finding Mo Johnson, the goalkeeper excelled.
06:44Goff is there to win it again. McPherson's header.
06:46But out it goes for a goal kick.
06:49Billy.
06:51The one phase of the half when Scotland began to look dangerous
06:56was when they picked up the pace and started to play a little bit quicker
07:00and a little bit more determinedly.
07:03Goff getting forward here.
07:05Turned forward to McNally. Good interception by Flores.
07:09Got another ball on the pitch incidentally.
07:11A small green one.
07:13It's been thrown on by somebody in the crowd.
07:16And the referee spotted it.
07:21And that indeed is the end of the first half.
07:25And it ends goalless.
07:27Scotland nil, Costa Rica nil here in Genoa.
07:30We've got reaction from the St. Gregory's to come.
07:33Welcome back to Genoa as Costa Rica prepare to start the second half here.
07:38Remember the team's level at half time.
07:41Scotland nil, Costa Rica nil.
07:44We've just noticed that the Scots have made a half-time substitution.
07:48Stuart McKimmy, the Aberdeen full-back,
07:50who was the man who had the pleasure of scoring the winning goal
07:53against the reigning world champions Argentina at Hampden
07:57a few weeks back has come on.
07:58Looking around the field quickly, it looks as though Richard Goff is the man who's gone off.
08:02And McKimmy has gone into that right-back role.
08:05You can only assume that maybe Goff picked up some kind of knock
08:08because his heightened presence at free kicks and corners
08:12is a vital factor for the Scots.
08:14We'll have a word from Billy McNeill on that change in a moment
08:17as the ball is turned dangerously
08:19and headed away by McPherson from the Scottish penalty area.
08:23Jim Bett, deep inside his own half, a word on that change, Billy?
08:27I think, like yourself, that it may well be down to some kind of injury.
08:31Having said that, Stuart McKimmy's had a very good season.
08:34He's good going forward.
08:35He'll have a go at getting to that byline and put some balls into the middle.
08:39Maybe that's the reason he's on, to provide that width on the right
08:43and the kind of crosses he looked for McNally for then.
08:48Certainly, there's an excess of defensive players, if you like,
08:53in the Scottish team the way Costa Rica are playing.
08:55We don't really feel that they needed the full complement of the back four, if you like.
09:02Because the Costa Ricans have never been playing more than two players forward at any one stage.
09:08Certainly, McKimmy is hugging that right touchline again
09:11as it's played forward this time to Mo Johnston.
09:13McKimmy's in support, and here he is.
09:18Perhaps he's being asked to play virtually as an outside right.
09:24On his left foot, he finds McPherson.
09:27Mo Johnston held off the defender well.
09:30McKimmy's certainly seen plenty of the ball.
09:32Here's McStay.
09:33Good little turn again to McNally.
09:35And the defender just got a boot in the way.
09:40It's good to see Scotland have come out with a positive attitude
09:43here at the start of the second half and gone straight at the Costa Ricans.
09:48Mo Johnston has to beat the referee as well before finding Aitken.
09:52And again, it's fed out at every opportunity to McKimmy and a good-looking cross.
09:56But McNally didn't quite read it.
09:58Cornejo did.
09:59Well, I guess if you were the Costa Rican coach now,
10:01you'd try and push somebody up down Costa Rica's left
10:04to stop McKimmy making those runs.
10:07Here's Aitken.
10:08Now Johnston.
10:09One back by little Ramirez.
10:12Caillasso.
10:16Chavez.
10:19Ramirez a bit clumsy.
10:21And McStay with the interception.
10:24McPherson.
10:28Malpas.
10:32Mo Johnston.
10:34Back to Malpas.
10:45Caillasso.
10:49And McPherson.
10:50Caillasso.
10:54And the Costa Ricans do tend to
10:57overhit things a little bit in that position
10:59because they were quite strong then.
11:01They had possession and they had plenty of men forward
11:03but Caillasso just lost patience a little
11:06to Scotland's pleasure.
11:07Here's McPherson.
11:12Montero just gave Johnston a little nudge in the back again
11:14as he has consistently done in the first half.
11:20They're quite adept as we've seen at keeping possession
11:22here in Costa Rica.
11:24Little Ramirez spins away to feed Caillasso.
11:27Good challenge from McPherson.
11:28He's had a steady old game.
11:30Chavez in possession though.
11:33Jara.
11:34Chavez again.
11:36Ramirez.
11:38Marchena coming from his back four roll
11:42excursion forward for him
11:43and he's got himself into a shooting position here perhaps.
11:46Jara's there.
11:47And Caillasso!
11:48And Caillasso has scored!
11:50Costa Rica have taken the lead!
11:56Five minutes gone in the second half.
11:58A disastrous start for Scotland.
12:01Late and beaten.
12:06And the handful of Costa Rican supporters
12:10celebrate as the masses of Scottish fans
12:13have gone silent.
12:15Caillasso with an easy job.
12:17It was the run from the back by Marchena the number 19
12:19that set that up.
12:20Jara played it on.
12:22Caillasso couldn't really miss from there, could he?
12:28Lovely little backhealer by Jara.
12:32And Caillasso finished off in style.
12:35What a setback at the start of this second half for Scotland.
12:39And suddenly memories of Iran and Zaire and New Zealand
12:43and all the rest of those Scottish setbacks
12:46come flooding back, I'm sure,
12:48to those loyal fans on the terraces.
12:51I've got a response straight away here, Scotland.
12:54Aitken looking for McKinney.
12:57McCall gets it back.
12:58McKinney's there again.
12:59And Montero has brought him down.
13:01And the referee has got to act.
13:02Montero has got away with murder in the first half.
13:07He's not even given the free kick
13:09because that looked to me a deliberate foul by Montero
13:11at only a corner.
13:13Not even a word from the referee
13:14for this tough little fellow.
13:17Corner it is.
13:19McLeish amongst those who've come forward with McPherson.
13:23It's aimed at McPherson, a good header, but off target.
13:26Well, Billy McNeil,
13:27well, in fact, the referee has given another corner there.
13:30It must have gone off a Costa Rican defender
13:32on McPherson's header,
13:33so I'll bring you in in a moment
13:36on that disastrous moment for the Scots.
13:39Caillasso scoring at another corner.
13:41And Scotland respond straight away.
13:44Neo comes and catches with ease.
13:47Well, Billy, the goal.
13:50Well, they can do that.
13:52Certainly, I think in this game,
13:53they're perhaps entitled to.
13:55Really, Costa Rica came to this World Cup
13:57really to enjoy themselves and to take part in it.
14:01And I would have thought
14:02it might have even been a formality for us
14:04to get through this,
14:05but certainly at this particular stage,
14:07we don't look good at all.
14:09And the threat again here from Jara
14:11and he hit that first time
14:12and could have caught Leighton out.
14:14Fortunately, it was well wide.
14:17But it was good opportunism from Jara.
14:20He just had a little stab at it first time
14:23and Leighton was diving anxiously.
14:28Aitken, the captain.
14:29Scotland, one down.
14:3117 minutes gone in the second half.
14:34And remember, with Brazil and Sweden to play,
14:36this is a game that the Scots
14:37simply cannot afford to lose.
14:39If they're to progress for the first time
14:41beyond the first round here.
14:42Here's Mo Johnston.
14:44Mo Johnston's done well.
14:45And still doing well.
14:47Good tackle though by Marchena.
14:48It's turned in towards...
14:50McEnany!
14:52So close.
14:58How often have we said that today?
15:00So near, so close, yet so far away
15:03as far as Scotland are concerned, really.
15:06Afternoon, a lot of people are coming home.
15:08And just switching on their sets.
15:09The bad news here is that Scotland are a goal down.
15:12The goal came five minutes into the second half.
15:14Watch for the lovely little backhealer here by Jara.
15:17Caillasso, the man who scored to give Costa Rica the lead.
15:20One minute remains.
15:23Scotland go charging forward again.
15:24And it comes to Mo Johnston!
15:26Great save!
15:28And still with a stay!
15:30And he's got it away again, amazingly.
15:34Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.
15:38First Johnston, then McStay
15:41denied when a goal seemed inevitable.
15:45Good cross in here.
15:47Comes down to Johnston, who hits it well.
15:49Great stop, straight at him to be fair.
15:51And then defender and goalkeeper got away
15:53the follow-up shot from Paul McStay.
15:57Scotland's corner.
16:00McPherson climbing high.
16:01And it came off Marchena for another corner.
16:04Now there's a mood of confidence about the Scots.
16:08And the supporters have got behind them again.
16:12McPherson stays forward for another corner kick.
16:20And the goalkeeper came and claimed it again.
16:24Well, Billy, is it going to be one of those days?
16:28At this moment, it looks like we've just got to keep the head
16:30and keep playing and keep hoping that something's going to come for us.
16:33But we've had two chances that have fallen to our two front players.
16:37And at this level, your front players have got to put those chances away.
16:40I felt that, for me, it was two chances very, very much missed.
16:50Here's McStay.
16:54Costa Rican player lying injured in the Scottish half,
16:56but they're not concerned about that as the ball goes forward.
16:59Only 20 minutes to go, Scotland one down.
17:01Mo Johnston moving in, this time the goalkeeper does fumble it.
17:04Turned back in again.
17:06McAnally's headed down.
17:08Aitken with the shot.
17:10Caught it well.
17:12On the body.
17:14But wide.
17:18And Ali McCoyst, the Rangers striker, has taken off his tracksuit
17:23and is about to come on.
17:25Oh!
17:31Aitken, the Scottish skipper, has a look of anxiety as well he might.
17:37McKinney.
17:40Aitken again, they're queuing up for the cross, the Scottish players.
17:44So are the Costa Rican defenders, they've got everybody back now.
17:48Flicked on by McCoyst. Johnson is in there. McCoyst!
17:52No power, no sting, no threat.
18:02Enormous kick downfield by Cornejo.
18:05Uwe McKinney lost it a little bit in the sunlight.
18:08Got away with it.
18:14Huge kick from the other end by Leighton.
18:16Johnson looked as though he was foul to me.
18:18And indeed that's the decision.
18:20At last, as Mo Johnson's took a fair old battering up there at times
18:23and not got many free kicks out of it.
18:27Scotland have had several free kicks in similar positions to this
18:30and so far have made nothing of them.
18:39The first one with the shot.
18:44This is getting very frustrating, Billy McNeil.
18:46Desperation is starting to creep in.
18:48I don't think there was anything worked out with that free kick.
18:55McPherson who's spending all his time up front now.
19:00McLeish wins it back.
19:01He's a good header as well.
19:03McCall did well.
19:06Gets the cross in dangerously.
19:08Another corner with a result.
19:12Chavez got it away.
19:15McCall with a good cross.
19:25McPherson getting up again.
19:27Turn in by Johnson on the line.
19:29And again the goalkeeper and Chavarria combine to scramble it away.
19:34Panic time for Costa Rica.
19:36No question.
19:37But it's panic time for Scotland as well.
19:40McPherson wins it yet again.
19:42McPherson wins it yet again.
19:44Harry McCoyst.
19:46McCall wins it back.
19:48And another corner.
19:50Great shouts from the Scottish fans
19:52that the Costa Rican defender had used his hand then, Mark Chay and I,
19:55but the referee could hardly have been closer.
19:57Frustration for Jim Leighton.
20:01He's been beaten.
20:05The guy at the other end hasn't.
20:08Turned in again by McStay.
20:09Cornejo comes to meet it again.
20:11Perfect handling.
20:12And under pressure from McPherson.
20:14And the Costa Ricans reacted angrily.
20:16They felt McPherson went in a bit strong then.
20:19Nine saves, the statisticians tell us.
20:23And heaven knows how many catches.
20:25If they're including the catches as well, it'll be well into double figures.
20:33As the ball was turned in, we can see how...
20:37I think he must have been kidding us all when he kept dropping those crosses against Wales.
20:41He knew Andy Roxburgh was watching.
20:45Ramirez.
20:47Back by McKimmy.
20:50But Costa Rica get it back again in danger here.
20:56Not a bad shot, is there?
20:59That was mighty close.
21:02And Leighton was very grateful to see it fly wide from Gonzalez.
21:07First time he's really been in a forward position most of the half.
21:11Only two minutes to go now.
21:14Scotland a goal down.
21:17Running out of ideas, running out of time.
21:20And possibly seeing their World Cup life running short at the very first hurdle.
21:26Two games to go.
21:27Remember, the top two teams in the groups go through.
21:30And in the six groups, four of the teams in third place will also qualify for the next round.
21:36But if you don't beat what is on paper the weakest team in the group,
21:39in your opening match, you've got Sweden and Brazil still to play,
21:42you are in trouble.
21:44Scotland are in trouble.
21:49We're into the last minute.
21:51Medford.
21:53Xaveria.
21:54You've just got to keep it sensible.
21:56Costa Rica.
21:57And they have.
22:00What a disaster for Andy Roxburgh,
22:02who has planned the World Cup campaign so thoughtfully, so carefully.
22:09And he knows, back home in Scotland,
22:13this result will be greeted like a death in the family.
22:17Kayaso forward to Ramirez.
22:20And Ramirez will take it into the corner like a good little pro.
22:24But he turns a useful looking cross in as well.
22:28McCall, humping it forward to McAnally.
22:33Back to McPherson.
22:34Oh, McPherson slips.
22:36And Medford nearly punished him for it.
22:38Oh.
22:40On my watch now, 90 minutes are up.
22:44Scotland go forward.
22:45There's a bit of injury time.
22:48But will it be enough?
22:49McKinney's cross.
22:51McCall climbing up well.
22:53And again, it's Costa Rica who get to the loose ball first.
22:58McLeish winning it back.
23:00Oh, a complete mis-kick.
23:02McCoyst.
23:03Johnston.
23:04Monteiro headed it away.
23:05McCoyst again.
23:08Now McKinney.
23:10Oh, it's a wasted cross unless Johnston can make it difficult for the goalkeeper.
23:13He did.
23:14It was a question I would have thought of a foul by Johnston.
23:19But no, a corner has been given.
23:23It could be the last corner Scotland get, possibly.
23:26We're into time being added for stoppages.
23:33The goalkeeper got there just ahead of McLeish.
23:36McKinney turns it back in.
23:38McCall.
23:39McLeish is there.
23:40McCoyst is there.
23:42And over the crossbar it goes.
23:45Now they're trying to say, the Scottish players, that it came off Costa Rican boot.
23:49The referee has said no.
23:50And in fact, the referee have blown the final whistle.
23:53That's it.
23:54Costa Rica have beaten Scotland.
23:57Shock for Andy Roxburgh.
23:59Disaster for Scotland.
24:01They've lost their first game against the team that everybody thought would be the whipping boys of this group.
24:06There are derisory hoots of disapproval rolling down from the stands here from the 10,000 Scottish supporters.
24:15This, I'm afraid, ranks alongside Zaire and Peru and Iran and New Zealand as a Scottish World Cup disaster.
24:24Indeed, it could be the worst result of all.
24:27They've lost to a team taking part in the World Cup finals for the first time in their history.
24:32And now they've got to face Brazil and Sweden and look for points against two of the strongest teams in these finals.
24:39And this is the goal that ruined Scotland's day and maybe ruined their World Cup as well.
24:46Marchena coming from a back position, finding Jara.
24:49Lovely little back heel.
24:51Caillasso did the rest.
24:52Late and beaten.
24:54And for all the pressure that Scotland could apply after that goal had gone in.
24:58For all the near misses.
24:59For all the corners they forced.
25:01And there's a graphic illustration of that.
25:04Twice as many as Costa Rica and more.
25:07For all that, Scotland couldn't get their final goal and they've lost by one goal.