After being controversially ousted from the World Cup, New Zealand coach Danny Hay has criticised FIFA over the officials chosen for their crucial match against Costa Rica.
The All Whites were heartbroken to lose the one-off match 1-0, with Sydney FC player Kosta Barbarouses’ contentious red card being just one major call that went against them.
Hay expressed surprise that a referee from the United Arab Emirates was chosen by FIFA rather than a European official, like the one chosen for the Socceroos’ triumph over Peru, after the game.
With their success, Costa Rica completed the 32-nation World Cup line-up, but the Kiwis were dealt a further setback. Barbarouses was sent off in the second half after a contentious VAR ruling disallowed them from scoring an equaliser.
After a VAR review for a foul, it was determined that Matt Garbett, a midfielder, had tackled Oscar Duarte to the ground before crossing the ball for Chris Wood to score after 39 minutes. Barbarouses, in contrast, played as a replacement for just nine minutes before getting dismissed for a reckless challenge in the 69th minute.
All Whites’ FIFA World Cup dream crushed
Joel Campbell’s goal in the third minute gave Costa Rica the lead, but Keylor Navas, the Central Americans’ captain and goalkeeper, helped the Central Americans stay in the game as New Zealand recovered from the early deficit to control possession and produce more and better scoring chances.
At the post-match presentation, Hay stated his honest opinion. He said that some of the officiating, in his opinion, was dreadful. Two players fighting for the ball resulted in the disallowed goal. Matt Garbett may have first been the victim of the foul. Naturally, VAR intervened and nullified that.
Hay challenged Barbarouses’ straight red as well. He remarked that he hasn’t given a second one a close look. Their analyst, who was in the audience and wasn’t persuaded. However, he said, they could be proven wrong.
Hay claims he was astounded when Mohammed Abdulla of the United Arab Emirates was chosen to oversee the special game. He believes that FIFA erred in such a vital game for them when they saw what Australia received versus Peru last night with high-caliber European officials.
Navas saved his best play for the frantic finish, leaping to block Wood’s low drive and getting down to stop Clayton Lewis’ looping left-foot shot.
In the last qualifying test, it helped Costa Rica, which lost to New Zealand in the quarterfinals in 2014, get to the World Cup for the third time in a row. After losing to Mexico in the 2014 tournament and Peru four years later, the Kiwis suffered their most recent defeat in the intercontinental playoffs.
Luis Fernando Suárez, the coach of Costa Rica, completed his own World Cup hat trick. In 2006, he represented Ecuador, and in 2014, he represented Honduras.
Suárez and his team have a challenging World Cup assignment ahead of them because Group E features two of the previous three champions. On November 23, Spain faces off against Japan, then Germany.
When Campbell, a former Arsenal forward, slid between two defenders near the penalty spot to receive a low cross from youngster Jewison Bennette, Costa Rica scored on its opening effort. Campbell sent a left-footed shot low and wide of the goal.
For Bennette, who turns 18 on Wednesday, a World Cup spot was the ideal present.
