Unai Núñez gave the victory to the Basque team in the last play of their match against Costa Rica. The Athletic center-back beat Keylor Navas, who had made the night's stop shortly before another powerful header from Bautista, just after minute 93. Ipurua's clash improved as the minutes passed.
The Basques took the lead in the first half through Muniain. The Ticos reacted after the break and leveled the fight with a goal from Moya. With 1-1 on the scoreboard, neither team gave up going in search of victory.
Both contenders they took the crash with the utmost seriousness from the kick-off. Order and control football prevailed during many phases of the match. With the passing of time and the many changes introduced by the two coaches, the forces were equalized and the duel gained in emotion. All until Núñez established the differences.
The atmosphere, as it has been happening for some time now due to the coronavirus, was conspicuous by its absence in this match played in Ipurua with an empty door. Meeting also marked by the numerous and important absences in the Basque team. Clemente improvised on the fly a predominantly rojiblanco line-up.
The txuri urdin Guevara and rojillo Roberto Torres were the coach's bets to start the double pivot. Both, it is true, gave meaning to the football of a block that was completed with Athletic players. Nine out of eleven.
Ronaldo González, coach of Costa Rica, initially resorted to a lineup with many similarities to the one presented days ago in Austria against Qatar. The team captained by Keylor Navas and with several footballers known from his time in the league, he planted himself in Eibar with a 4-4-2 and with a serious problem facing the rival goal. Of their four appointments prior to this clash in the armorer's fiefdom this year, the Basque rival had only been able to score one goal.
The summary of the Euskadi – Costa Rica
The Basque team had the merit of getting ahead on the scoreboard early. After a few minutes of testing, Muniain managed to make a good pass after a not worse internship of the debutant Morcillo for his band at the edge of minute 15. Costa Rica, far from collapsing, continued to do its thing.
Their combinatorial football was controlled at all times by the Tricolor. A shot by Campbell deflected by Herrerín and a dive from Borges were his most serious approaches before the break. Williams starred in the best of the locals.
The Ticos, against the scoreboard and with some new faces, came out in the second half ready to turn the game around. Borges soon had a great chance to beat Herrerín headfirst, but Yeray saved under sticks. Campbell tried right away. Clemente, aware of the turn the crash had taken, looked for solutions on the bench. Aihen, Manu and Bautista entered thus in unison. The Basque coach still did not see anything clear, since it did not take much longer to put Oier.
M
Oya, in the middle of the local adjustment phase, managed to tie the match with a shot from point-blank to center shot by Venegas. Euskadi threatened to cheer up in attack, with an unbeatable chance for the recently-out Oier included, but the visitors returned to the charge.
Clemente chose to enter Balenziaga and Arbilla in the final stretch of the match. Euskal Selekzioa, with fresh air on the green, insisted on his attack in front of a rival who seemed to give in his offensive effort. Keylor Navas, in fact, made the stop of the night after a point-blank header from Bautista. Unai Núñez, however, managed to beat the PSG goalkeeper with a head just after the last corner of the night. There was no time for more.
Euskal Selekzioa (2): Iago Herrerín, Ander Capa, Yeray, Núñez, Yuri Berchiche (Aihen Muñoz, min. 55), Guevara (Manu García, min. 55), Roberto Torres (Arbilla, min. 84), Williams, Muniain (Oier Sanjurjo, min. 64), Morcillo (Balenziaga, min. 84), Villalibre (Bautista, min. 55).
Costa Rica (1): Keylor Navas; Gamboa, Waston, Duarte (Vargas, min. 46), Calvo; Venegas (Rodríguez, min. 70), Borges (Brow, min. 83), Álfaro, Leal (Luis Díaz, min. 46); Jonathan Moya (Vega, min. 83) and Campbell (David Guzmán, min. 83).
Goals: 1-0: Muniain (min. 12); 1-1: Jonathan Moya (min. 69); 2-1: Unai Núñez (min. 93).
Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea. He showed no cards.
Incidents: Match behind closed doors in Ipurua.