Brazil vs. Costa Rica: Winners and Losers from International Friendly
Brazil defeated Costa Rica 1-0 on Saturday in an international friendly at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
Hulk scored the game's only goal in the 10th minute, but both teams had goals ruled out in controversial offside decisions.
Up next, Brazil will play the United States on Tuesday in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Costa Rica will face Uruguay the same day.
Here, Bleacher Report selects winners and losers from Saturday's match.
Winner: Hulk
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Hulk started as the lone striker in Brazil's formation, and the burly forward scored the game's only goal in the 10th minute.
After running onto a long pass over the top, Hulk muscled off a defender, slipped, stood back up and fired past Costa Rica goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton. It was a classic display of Route 1 football, and it was highly effective.
"Impressive show of strength by Hulk on the goal," tweeted B/R's Joe Tansey. "Got around Gonzalez with ease, kept his footing and powered in the opener."
Hulk generally starts more on the wing, but with his physique, the center forward role would seem to suit him well.
Loser: Costa Rica
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Costa Rica stunned and impressed the worldwide footballing public with their run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals. But since then, it's been a rough road for the Ticos.
Saturday's defeat was the team's fifth in 2015 compared to zero wins. In fact, Costa Rica have not won a match since beating South Korea 3-1 in Seoul in October 2014.
Under Paulo Wanchope, Costa Rica did advance to the Gold Cup quarterfinals this summer, but their performance wasn't as impressive as one might think. The Ticos drew all three of their group matches to finish second behind Jamaica and then lost in extra time to Mexico in the quarters.
Wanchope has since resigned, after video surfaced of the coach fighting in the stands during an Under-23 game. Oscar Ramirez, who will be tasked with returning the team to the highs of 2014, replaced him.
Winner: Patrick Pemberton
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Despite the loss, Costa Rica's Patrick Pemberton had a good game. The goalkeeper made 14 saves, per ESPN FC, a total that included a few high-quality stops that kept his side in the game.
Early in the first half, Pemberton denied David Luiz at close range after the Costa Rica defense had been opened up. Then in the second half, he saved a Douglas Costa effort that would have doubled Brazil's lead.
All in all, Ticos' goalkeeper presented a strong performance.
Loser: Refereeing Decisions
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Both teams had goals ruled out incorrectly in poor offside decisions.
First, the linesman denied Costa Rica in the 55th minute, when Bryan Ruiz volleyed in after latching onto a pass. Replays showed Ruiz was clearly onside when the ball was played, meaning the goal should have stood.
If it had counted, the goal would have leveled the score and probably changed the complexion of the game. Regardless, Brazil had a strike ruled out under dubious circumstances as well.
Douglas Costa was the aggrieved party in the 76th minute, seeing his low drive called back after the linesman erroneously raised his flag for offside. Like the previous decision, this one really wasn't all that close. The goal clearly should have stood.
In addition, Costa Rica had a penalty appeal waved away late in the first half, when Ruiz was crowded out by Fernandinho and David Luiz. This decision wasn't quite as clear-cut, but Costa Rica must have felt harshly treated.
Winner: Brazil
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This was not Brazil's most impressive outing, and it wasn't their most creative. In true Dunga style, it was a workman's performance, full of running and hard work.
The Selecao were short on ideas at times, and they also missed some chances, but that didn't matter too much in the end. For Brazil and Dunga, it was important to win this game, their first since crashing out of the Copa America at the quarterfinal stage.
In that sense, it was mission accomplished, and Brazil will now look forward to their next game against the United States.
