“I think they’ve let us down by putting someone in charge who clearly hasn’t officiated at that level.”
It is the third consecutive qualifying campaign that New Zealand has fallen to the last hurdle after losing the play-offs to Mexico and Peru in the last two rounds of the World Cup.
New Zealand All Whites coach Danny Hay. Credit: AP
Hay’s team had a disastrous start, with Campbell hitting the back of the net with the first shot of the game.
The 29-year-old made a cross from the left before the New Zealand defense, directing the ball past Oli Sail and into the far corner of the net.
This would be Costa Rica’s only shot in the first half, but the Whites pressed hard to get the equalizer.
Wood created two chances for young Matthew Garbett and Alex Greive, but both missed opportunities.
Newcastle United Wood striker forced Costa Rica captain Keylor Navas to make a double stop moments later, but it wasn’t until the 39th minute that the great New Zealand striker thought he had scored.
Wood led a Garbett cross that Navas passed after dodging the Costa Rican defense, but Abdullah ruled that Garbett had committed a foul by recovering the ball before his cross.
Costa Rica made a three-pointer in the half, incorporating former Fulham midfielder Bryan Ruiz, but New Zealand still dominated possession, shooting and territory.
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Even after Barbarouses were sent off in the 69th minute, New Zealand pressed for a goal with a long-range effort from Clayton Lewis in the 76th minute forcing a clever stop by Navas.
“It’s obviously hurting the players right now, but I thought we were by far the best team,” Hay said. “It simply came to our notice then.
“There was a dominant team. A team that tries to play good quality football. A team was trying to create chances and that was us.”
Costa Rica’s ranking completes the full lineup of 32 nations for the November World Cup with Los Ticos to be in Group E alongside European heavyweights Spain and Germany, as well as Japan in Qatar.
“The team never gave up. I’m very proud, “said Costa Rican coach Luis Fernando Suarez.
“We were convinced we could do something great.”
AAP
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