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With eight of the 20 matches in this round robin competition having been played, it was finally time for El Salvador to get off the mark. They’d seen the other four participating nations feature in from three to six matches each so far in the group stage, and so had plenty of catching up to do. With this their bow coming against the team leading the way, they could do with registering a win as a statement of early intent. Costa Rica, however, were surely in no mood to easily relinquish their driver’s seat, and their most recent performance had been the 1-0 home win against Trinidad&Tobago a fortnight earlier. They’d only obtained a single point from their three away matches hitherto, and in hostile surroundings in San Salvador, this would have been regarded as another very difficult away fixture.

Pos	Team	Pl	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Costa Rica	6	3	1	2	5	4	7
2	USA	4	2	1	1	4	3	5
3	Guatemala	3	1	0	2	3	4	2
4	Trinidad&Tobago	3	0	2	1	2	3	2
5	El Salvador	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

In the home side’s line-up, there are four players who were part of their 1982 World Cup squad. Everyone remembers how they were disgraced by Hungary and lost 10-1 in their opening match, although they redeemed themselves somewhat thereafter, with narrow losses to Belgium and Argentina. Most recently, they’d lost 2-1 to Paraguay and 1-0 to Chile in an edition of ‘Marlboro Cup’ early in May. Nine of the players who started in that defeat against Paraguay were starters here, too. Alfredo Vásquez Flores and José María Rivas had come into the side for Guillermo Rivera and Óscar Ulloa. They were without the country’s major international star, though, as Jorge ‘Mágico’ Gonzáles had not been released by his Spanish club side Cádiz, for whom he had just completed a fifth successive season in the topflight. Cádiz were fighting to avoid relegation on the final day of the season, and were away at already relegated Murcia. As it would turn out, Cádiz won that game 1-0 and secured their topflight status for yet another season. ‘Mágico’ was rewarded with a seven minute cameo. 

40 year old Yugoslav Miroslav Vukašinović had been in charge of El Salvador since the previous year, but he had announced already prior to this game that it would be his final one. Regardless of win, draw or defeat, Vukašinović would step down as the El Salvador national team coach following the game against Costa Rica. 

Costa Rica had gained two huge points in defeating Trinidad&Tobago 1-0 in their most recent qualifier. Coming up against a team which had yet to play their first qualifier must have been a bit odd, as there was not a whole lot of knowledge on El Salvador and their current ability. Granted, they had scored six times over the two matches against the Netherlands Antilles to reach the qualification group stage, but that had been eight months earlier, and the opposition had hardly been vintage. Costa Rica manager Marvin Rodríguez had named the same starting line-up which had defeated the Trinis, with one exception only: Midfielder Óscar Ramírez had been replaced with Germán Chavarría, a player who is surely a stronger one defensively. Their front three had looked inspired in spells last time out, and were once again expected to cause the opposition trouble. 

The list of five substitutes for Costa Rica which is shown on-screen does not include a back-up goalkeeper. 

Mexican official Arturo Brizio Carter, only 33 years of age, had been put in charge of the game. He’d earlier handled the game between Trinidad&Tobago and Honduras in the second round of qualification. 

El Salvador (4-3-1-2)

Player	Notes	Age	Club
1 Luis Guevara Mora		27
2 Giovanni Trigueros	sub 53′	22
4 Nelson Rivera		27
5 Jaime Rodríguez		30
7 Mauricio Cienfuegos		21
9 Ricardo García		23
10 Luis Ramírez Zapata		35
11 Salvador Coreas (c)		28
12 Jorge Ábrego		24
13 José María Rivas		31
17 Alfredo Vásquez Flores	sub around 35′	28

Substitutes
3 Leonel Cárcamo	on 53′	24
6 Juan Ramón Pacheco		29
15 Fernando Lazo	on around 35′	21
20 Osmel Zapata		30
25 William Santillana		26

Manager: Miroslav Vukašinović 

Costa Rica (4-3-3)

Player	Notes	Age	Club
1 Luis Gabelo Conejo		29
2 Vladimir Quesada		23
3 Róger Flores (c)		32
4 Mauricio Montero		25
7 Claudio Jara	sub h-t	30
8 Germán Chavarría		31
9 Leony Flores		24
11 Evaristo Coronado	sub 70′	28
14 Juan Cayasso		28
15 Enrique Díaz	75′	30
19 Héctor Marchena		24

Substitutes
5 Marvin Obando		29
10 Enrique Rivers		28
16 Álvaro Solano	on 70′	28
18 Carlos Mario Hidalgo	on h-t	26
x Hernán Medford		21

Manager: Marvin Rodríguez

Tactical set-up

Match report

First half: 

The packed national stadium in the El Salvadorian capital was providing a cauldron of noise leading up to kick-off, as the fans would have been waiting in great anticipation to see whether their team could make an impact on the group, which was already taking shape considering the number of matches which had been contested. Kick-off was left to deal with for the hosts, as forwards Ramírez Zapata and Rivas got the game under way, kicking towards the left as we were watching. 

Alas, the footage only contains about 23-25 minutes from each half, so getting the full picture is an awkward task. However, we have developed a certain sense through the studies of this particular World Cup qualification of reading a game’s texture from watching even cut versions, and we believe that this footage does the match justice. We see two attack-minded, direct teams try and take the game to the opposition right from the off, as there is little dallying on the ball in midfield, with both sets of players having their minds fixed on the opposition’s final third of the pitch. 

El Salvador must surely feel the energy provided by the backing from the crowd, and they show no fear as they tear into the Costa Rican side through swift, direct passing and plenty of running off the ball in advanced positions, providing options for the man on the ball. We see how deep-lying midfield man Alfredo Vásquez Flores is typically the player they want to direct operations, and he will either make use of his pair of midfield compatriots, the diminutive Mauricio Cienfuegos to his advanced right or Ricardo García ahead of him in the inside left role, or look further ahead where in particular veteran Luis Ramírez Zapata, aged 35, is a keen runner into space. There is also skipper Salvador Coreas from his central, attacking position in midfield who looks switched on, giving the visitors plenty to look out for from the opening sequences. 

Having said that, Costa Rica will attempt quick counters, making use of their speed up top, which on this occasion seems to be highlighted through the presence of Leony Flores in the outside left position among the three front men. He looks to have the upper hand on El Salvador right-back Jorge Ábrego, at least as far as pace is concerned. Claudio Jara along the opposite flank is far from as much involved when Costa Rica arrive via their quick transitions. And through the centre, striker Evaristo Coronado also doesn’t possess the necessary pace, although he is always a handful through his street smartness and strength in holding the ball up. He also tracks back admirably on a couple of occasions.

The away team have come with a slightly more defensive set-up in their midfield compartment, where the highly combative Héctor Marchena remains right in front of the pair of central defenders in the anchor role, but on this occasion we see the incessant Germán Chavarría in the inside left role. He’s got fine frequency in his foot work, and is a terrific player in closing down the opposition. It seems likely that his inclusion was tactically motivated from how El Salvador play, adding another dimension to their game in their pressure play. The third midfield member is the elegant Juan Cayasso, who may not be such an asset in play inside their own half, though his long strides see him a permanent threat to the home defence when he breaks out from his own half and into El Salvadorian territory. 

In a cut version without an on-screen clock or other references for time, it is truly difficult to establish with any kind of certainty at what time incidents occur. We keep seeing the swift moves from the home side, typically instigated via Vásquez Flores at the heart of the midfield, which end up in attacks involving a number of players early on, and when left-back Rivera and forward Ramírez Zapata make use of García who in turn feeds skipper Coreas to the left in the area, the latter makes it to the byline and puts a deep cross over for Rivas to dummy Díaz and get his effort away just over the bar from the edge of the six yard box. It is an intelligently assembled move which at least should have been rewarded with an effort on target. 

Costa Rica have previously showed that they can grit it out without conceding a lot of opportunities against through their sound defensive, in which midfield anchor man Marchena is often instrumental. His shielding of the two centre-backs usually works a treat, but here he seems to struggle to get into his rhythm, with fine, skillful players like the highly gifted Cienfuegos and captain Coreas swarming around him. Central defenders Mauricio Montero and visiting skipper Róger Flores often excel in battle, but they too find it hard to get a grip against such flexible opponents. Hitherto, it is right-back Vladimir Quesada who has probably looked the safest bet in their rearguard, even though he often faces numerous opponents along his flank. Left-back Enrique Díaz, who often attacks with venom down his flank, also has his work cut out whenever the sneaky Rivas appears. Behind them is the wall of safety in the elegant Luis Gabelo Conejo, at 29 already one of the best goalkeepers in the region. 

Having been second best for the opening quarter of an hour, Costa Rica strike first as they stop an attack through García down the El Salvadorian left hand side, and it is Quesada who disposesses him. They shift the ball quickly through midfield and in the forward direction, as Cayasso plays in the advancing Marchena. In turn, he picks out Leony Flores to the left, who puts an angled ball into the box. Trigueros’ defensive header is sloppy, and only finds Coronado, whose two touches see him set Cayasso, who’s continued his run, up for an elegant finish from ten yards, calmly lifting it over the outrushing goalkeeper and into the back of the net for a flattering 1-0 to the away side. They had so far not done a whole lot to warrant a lead. 

Perhaps was this indecision at the back going to come back and haunt El Salvador? Goalkeeper Luis Guevara Mora, who had played in every of the 270 World Cup minutes for his country back in 1982, didn’t necessarily seem too confident when questions were asked of him aerially. Not that he was to blame anyhow for the opening goal. The only other player to complete their trio of matches in ’82 was big centre-back Jaime Rodríguez, who was indeed their spare man in defence, operating as the libero behind man-marker Giovanni Trigueros, at 22 their second youngest team member. He would keep a watchful eye on Coronado. 

The pair of full-backs, Jorge Ábrego to the right and Nelson Rivera along the left would both be looking to contribute in operations inside the Costa Rican half of the pitch, in particular the latter. Ábrego was perhaps not quite as confident in possession as his full-back compatriot. 27 year old Rivera lent a decent impression, possibly also aided by the fact that his direct opponent, the visitors’ right-sided forward Jara, didn’t enjoy his best ever performance. 

As we all know, goals have the ability to alter the course of any game, and El Salvador do look somewhat subdued having conceded on 15 minutes. They’ll need some time to mentally adjust and begin their search for an equalizer. Costa Rica dish out some hefty tackles, and they occasionally tackle through the ball and take the man out as well, something which the uncompromising Montero had shown early against Ramírez Zapata. When Jara goes flying in on the nippy Cienfuegos midway inside his own half, the Costa Rican forward is fortunate to escape yellow. El Salvador’s number 7 needs some treatment before he can continue.

When the hosts resume through the free-kick in the left hand channel, they see the initial ball into the area dealt with by the visitors, but El Salvador recoup the ball as Marchena plays a misplaced pass into the feet of Trigueros, who feeds it down the channel for Cienfuegos. In turn, the diminutive midfield man plays it inside to big Rodríguez, who had hit the set-piece into the area 30 seconds earlier. Now he takes a few powerful strides before he unleashes a piledriver from all of 30 yards with his less prefered left foot, and it flies into the back of the net with Conejo unable to prevent the leveller thanks to its ferocity. It is a fantastic strike – a proper rocket!

1-1 occured on 24 minutes according to just about every reliable source out there, and we have just four minutes of footage left from the first half thereafter. We see already in the first sequence after Rodríguez’ rocket that there has been a player change for the home side. Vásquez Flores had sported a big bandage around his right thigh from the start, and we see player no 15 Fernando Lazo having been brought on in his place. With no visual reference, it is difficult to say precisely when this substitution took place. Lazo is another youngster, so now they have two 21 year olds in their midst. Can they keep it up for the remainder of the game and challenge Costa Rica for the win? The visitors possibly look the more comfortable through to half time, and we see another injection of pace coming from Leony Flores, although Trigueros is on hand to clear the danger. 

Half time: El Salvador 1, Costa Rica 1. 

Second half: 

When the teams reappear for the start of the final 45 minutes, there has been a change in the away team’s line-up: Claudio Jara, who had not had a particularly fruitful first half had been replaced by midfielder Carlos Hidalgo. We immediately discover that goalscorer Juan Cayasso, who celebrated his 28th birthday the day before, had been moved wide right into Jara’s position, while Hidalgo took over for Cayasso in the inside right midfield role. Coronado and Cayasso get the ball rolling.

We see the visitors go on the attack early on, with Leony Flores’ pace once again posing a threat to El Salvador’s right-back Ábrego, though the first real moment of danger comes when Cayasso suddenly makes a burst into the heart of the El Salvadorian defence. Upon approaching the 18 yard area, he’s tackled by Rodríguez, and the ball’s diverted into the path of substitute Hidalgo, who in turn is challenged by Cienfuegos. However, he’s somehow managed to get his shot away from 23-24 yards out, and with Guevara Mora a few yards off his line, we see the ball spin into the back of the net, out of reach for the custodian, and Costa Rica have retaken the lead less than two minutes after the restart. 

We are being exposed to real time action early in the second half, and the hosts do not look fully switched on, even if they carve out a decent opportunity after recycling the ball after an initial left wing corner. It is Rivas who puts a cross in from the right, and libero Rodríguez, who has stayed up after the set-piece, arrives first to the ball and gets a powerful header away from ten yards out which Conejo must tip over for yet another flag kick. 

While Rodríguez was a big asset thanks to his physical presence and his ability to strike a long, precise ball to instantly switch from defence to attack, he was also prone to the odd sloppy moment defensively. We’d seen it earlier in the game, and when he casually tries to take the ball around Coronado as the last man of defence, he is challenged, with the ball running to the speedy Flores. The left sided forward darts goalwards, escaping a lunge from said Rodríguez, before he’s unceremoniously tackled to the ground by Trigueros, who picks up an injury in the process. We see from the replay that the El Salvadorian centre-back had attempted a two-footed, possibly goal-saving tackle. After some treatment, it is Leony Flores who then steps up and bends a brilliant free-kick over the defensive wall and into the top left corner from 22 yards out. Costa Rica, who had scored five times in their first six qualifiers, are suddenly 3-1 in front. 

Trigueros had been unable to continue after his self-inflicted injury, and was replaced by fellow central defender Leonel Cárcamo, a 24 year old, so already a few minutes into the second half, the hosts have made use of both their substitutes. 

El Salvador look stunned and perplexed in the wake of the visitors’ third goal, and they can hardly do anything right at the start of the second half. They look to someone for inspiration, but since the restart there has not been much in terms of cohesion from their players. Lazo on for Vásquez Flores in that deep-lying midfield role had perhaps not been ideal, while Cienfuegos and García had also struggled to get going. One player who was still on his game was skipper Coreas, and upon receiving a pass from Ábrego a few yards inside the Costa Rican half, he dummies Díaz and darts past a half-hearted attempt at tackling from Hidalgo, before getting level with the 18 yard area and swining a cross into the centre. The ball evades the head of Montero, while Marchena arrives too late to get a challenge in on Rivas, who places a very good header just inside the upright, with Conejo unable to get to it. The hosts are right back in the game with 25 minutes still left for play, as Costa Rica now lead 3-2. 

The footage is fast forwarded, and we see Costa Rica’s centre-forward Coronado lying on the ground inside the El Salvadorian half of the pitch receiving medical assistance. We do not know the source for his troubles, but it soon becomes evident that he needs to leave the pitch. The home fans and players alike become agitated at what they believe is an act of time wasting from the visitors, though Coronado’s problems seem genuine enough. He’s stretchered off, and he’s being replaced by birthday boy Álvaro Solano, who celebrates his 28th anniversary. He’s yet to register a goal in the qualification group stage. The substitution takes place on 70 minutes. 

Not long after the substitution arrives a moment of controversy. We see some sloppiness from Cayasso, who loses possession to Rivera midway inside his own half. In turn, the left-back feeds García, who then swings a cross into the box from the left hand channel. At the back stick Ramírez dives home a header for what appears to be El Salvador’s second leveller of the game, although the Mexican referee has other ideas. The goal is ruled out, and señor Brizio Carter signals for handball. However, there is no use of the hand on Ramírez Zapata’s behalf, but it becomes evident from the replay that Coreas has flighted García’s cross on using his. The crowd seem to think that the referee has the goal ruled out due to irregularities from Ramírez Zapata, and so go ballistic. The Mexican had got his decision spot on. 

There is a booking for time wasting by Enrique Díaz as indicated by the referee, although it seemed fairly innocuous. Then comes the moment which decides the game once and for all, as Flores, receiving the ball from Hidalgo, plays a one-two with Solano, who flicks the ball deftly on with the outside of his right boot. The quick left-sided forward races towards the byline, but rather than square an angled pass back into the area, he opts to finish low and just inside the post which Guevara Mora had not covered well enough for a fourth Costa Rican goal from an acute angle. It is the 24 year old’s second goal of the afternoon, and we see how disappointed home fans immediately abandon their seats and leave the stadium en masse. Having been robbed, as they see it, of an equalizer only moments earlier, they realize the game is lost with this latest goal. 

In the seven minutes which the game continues after Flores’ goal there are objects constantly being hurled on to the pitch by irate El Salvadorian fans. We see how players are worried for their safety when taking throw-ins, and these are scenes which should not take place at any football game, let alone a World Cup qualifier. What takes place on the pitch becomes secondary; the fans seem to wish for the game to be abandoned and the result annulled. 

It is particularly in the goalmouth guarded by home ‘keeper Guevara Mora where objects have been thrown, even though he’s surely not been the target. There are plenty of large cannisters of water having been chucked out on to the pitch by upset fans, and it becomes clear that the game can not continue through to full time. Just after the 85 minute mark the referee picks the ball up, and fourth official, Mr José Ortíz, also of Mexico, lets the stadium hosts know of the referee’s decision to abandon the game. 

As players and officials depart the pitch, we see Costa Rica goalkeeper Conejo sit down as he appears to have been struck by an object in the back of his head. The decision to call the game off before the full time whistle has been the right one, although no one yet knew at the time what the consequences would be. Would the fans get their wish and the result annulled? 

In the days afterwards FIFA’s reaction would become clear, as El Salvador were told to play their remaining home matches in the qualification outside of the country’s borders. The result would stand, and Costa Rica were indeed 4-2 winners. 

Final score: El Salvador 2, Costa Rica 4.