No breakthrough in tense first half

Costa Rica 0 Turkey 0

Neither Turkey nor Costa Rica could find the breakthrough in a tense half to this Group C match.

Costa Rica knew victory would see them repeat their progress to the second round of Italia 90, but it was Turkey, stung by their defeat by Brazil, who were the pre-match favourites.

After testing each other in the opening period, Paulo Wanchope fired the first shot in anger, volleying a bouncing ball a yard over the crossbar in a promising attack by Costa Rica.

Umit Ozat was similarly close from a long-range free-kick, his effort whizzing past an upright, before Erick Lonnis fielded Hasan Sas’ dipping shot.

Sas nearly broke through the Costa Rican ranks after a clever free-kick routine but Gilberto Martinez flung himself in front of the Turkish midfielder’s low drive.

Shortly after the half-hour, Costa Rica put together an excellent break but when Ronald Gomez sent Walter Centeno through, the midfielder blasted over with only goalkeeper Rustu Recber to beat.

Rustu picked up an injury clearing a ball outside his area, and the Turkish goalkeeper was noticeably slow off his line as Harold Wallace closed him down, but he just beat the Costa Rican in the race.