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WORLD CUP SOCCER
Ticos
Aim to Stay in Group A
Contention
After falling to World Cup host
Germany, 4-2, in its opening
match, Costa Rica will be in
search of a win against Ecuador
today to stay in Group A
contention.
Striker Paulo Wanchope scored
twice for Costa Rica during
Friday's match, but a late
second-half goal from Torsten
Frings sealed the win for
Germany.
Wanchope will once again lead
Costa Rica's offensive line,
while Walter Centeno will
provide support in the midfield
and defender Gilberto Martinez
will take control of Costa
Rica's back line.
Ecuador, the second smallest
country in South America, enters
the match after upsetting heavy
favorite Poland, 2-0, last
Friday in Gelsenkirchen. The
South American underdogs stunned
a pro-Poland crowd as they broke
the deadlock in the first half,
and then went on to shut out the
European nation in the second.
Carlos Tenorio opened the
scoring in the 24th minute,
before Agustin Delgado sealed
the win with 10 minutes
remaining.
Today's match marks the ninth
meeting between the two teams
with Ecuador recording two wins,
five draws and one loss. Their
last encounter was on February
16 2005 in Heredia when the
South Americans slid past the
Costa Ricans, 2-1.
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