- Costa Rica 1 New Zealand 0
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‘Absolutely atrocious’: Kiwi coach blasts ref after World Cup play-off loss
By Ed Jackson
Doha: Furious All Whites coach Danny Hay believes his side were on the end of some “atrocious” officiating after New Zealand suffered a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica in their World Cup play-off.
Former Arsenal striker Joel Campbell’s third-minute goal was enough to send the Central American nation to a third-straight World Cup as the All Whites twice fell on the wrong side of crucial VAR decisions at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar.
An equaliser by Chris Wood late in the first half was ruled out for a foul in the build-up after referee Mohammed Abdulla consulted his pitch-side monitor.
The New Zealanders’ sense of frustration only increased in the second half when Abdulla sent off substitute Sydney FC winger Kosta Barbarouses for a challenge on Francisco Calvo.
The United Arab Emirates’ official had originally booked Barbarouses for the challenge but changed his decision after once more viewing a replay.
Hay said a referee of Abdulla’s experience should not have been put in charge of such a key fixture.
Costa Rican fans celebrate after qualifying for a third successive World Cup.Credit:Getty
“I thought some of the officiating at times was absolutely atrocious. People can make their own mind up about that,” Hay said.
“When we saw the announcement and then we looked at what Australia and Peru had last night with good quality European officiating, I thought FIFA have made a mistake there in such an important game.
“I think they’ve let us down by putting somebody in charge that clearly has not officiated at this sort of level.”
It’s the third qualifying campaign in a row New Zealand have fallen at the final hurdle after losing play-offs to Mexico and Peru in the past two World Cup cycles.
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 match.
The 29-year-old got his foot to a cross from the left before New Zealand’s defence, steering the ball past Oli Sail and into the far corner of the net.
That would be Costa Rica’s only shot of the opening half however as the All Whites pressed hard for a leveller.
Wood twice created opportunities for youngsters Matthew Garbett and Alex Greive but both squandered the chances.
Newcastle United striker Wood forced Costa Rica captain Keylor Navas into a double-save moments later but it wasn’t until the 39th minute when the big New Zealand forward thought he had scored.
Wood steered a Garbett cross passed Navas after it eluded the Costa Rican defence but Abdullah ruled Garbett had committed a foul winning the ball back before his cross.
Costa Rica made a triple change at half-time, bringing on ex-Fulham midfielder Bryan Ruiz, but New Zealand were still dominating the possession, shots and territory.
Even after Barbarouses’ 69th-minute dismissal, New Zealand pressed for a goal with Clayton Lewis’s long-range effort in the 76th minute forcing a smart diving save from Navas.
“It’s obviously hurting players at the moment but I thought we were by far the better team,” Hay said. “I don’t even think that was in question.
“There was one team dominating. One team trying to play good quality football. One team trying to create chances and that was us.”
Costa Rica’s qualification completes the full 32-nation line-up for November’s 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,” Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez said. “We were very resilient ... we just kept going and today we see the fruits of our work.
“We were convinced that we could do something big.”
AAP
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