Spain: Aitor Fernández; Hugo Mallo, Marc
Bartra, Pulido, Luna; Oriol Romeu; Dani Pacheco (Recio 70'), Koke, Sergi
Roberto (Ezequiel 57'), Isco; Rodrigo (Alvaro Vázquez 80'). 4-1-4-1.
Costa Rica: Vargas; Jordan Smith, Contreras, Soto, Mora;
Diego Calvo (John Ruíz 59'), Tejeda, Golobio; Campbell, Bryan Vega
(Deiver Vega 81'), Minor Escoe (Joshua Díaz 81'). 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 14. Rodrigo. Won ball in midfield and ran on to
steer low shot past Vargas.
2-0. 48. Rodrigo. Poked loose ball in to net
from close up after Luna shot blocked.
2-1. 65. John Ruíz. Collected
pass from Golobio and struck shot past Aitor.
3-1. 80. Koke. Picked up
Alvaro pass and fired shot through crowded goalmouth.
4-1. 93. Isco
(penalty). After Isco himself pushed by Contreras inside area.
Spain got off to a good start in their opening game of the under 20 World Cup, Julen Lopetegui's side beating Costa Rica 4-1. Rodrigo opened the scoring early on, winning the ball of Soto before running on to beat Vargas with an angled shot. Campbell tested Aitor at the other end, but Isco and Pacheco went close beofre the interval, and three minutes after the restart Rodrigo scrambled his second goal of the evening from close up. John Ruíz pulled one back for the Central Americans though, and the substitute almost levelled the scores when he hit the bar a few minutes later. But Koke restored the two goal lead with a shot through a crowded goalmouth ten minutes from the end, and Isco wrapped things up from the penalty spot in injury time.