Costa Rica earns a place in the next World Cup stage for the first time in their football history, after overcoming Greece on penalties. The teams finished level at 1-1 after extra time, with the Greeks having an extra man for almost all of the second half.

Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas, in an excellent performance, dived to save Gekas’s fourth penalty, just before Michael Umana succeeded in the decisive kick.

After a bland first half the game came to life in the 52nd minute when Bryan Ruiz placed a low side shot beyond Greek keeper Orestis Karnezis and into the corner, but then Costa Rica had Oscar Duarte sent off for a second booking in the 66th minute.

Greece, who made it into the last 16 after an injury-time winner against Ivory Coast, had yet another buzzer beater in added time when Gekas unleashed a shot that Navas parried straight into  Sokratis Papasthathopoulos who intensely rammed into an empty net.

Greece almost obtained a 2-1 win moments later when Kostas Mitroglou had a header tipped over.

Though they had the best of extra time they, maintaining ball possession and being constantly threatening, they were unable to exploit their advantage and paid the price in their first shootout.

Costa Rica, whose only previous appearance in the last 16 was back in 1990, now face the Netherlands with a semi-finals position at stake.