Jorge Luis Pinto’s side battled to another astounding victory as they secured a shoot-out triumph despite playing close to an hour with 10 men.

Costa Rica kept their World Cup dream alive as they beat Greece on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the last 16 on Sunday.

Earmarked as whipping boys having been drawn alongside England, Italy and Uruguay in Group D, Jorge Luis Pinto’s men shocked the world by winning the pool with a haul of seven points.

And another chapter was written in their remarkable story in Recife on Sunday as, following a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, they triumphed in the shootout against a Greece side who know all about beating the odds following their Euro 2004 victory 10 years ago.

That Costa Rica even forced spot-kicks was incredible given they suffered the heartbreak of seeing Sokratis Papastathopoulos force extra time with a last-gasp strike.

At that stage, it appeared Oscar Duarte’s 66th-minute sending off, which came after Bryan Ruiz put the South Americans ahead, would prove decisive.

But having produced a string of stunning saves to deny Greece in outfield play, Keylor Navas was the hero of the shootout as he kept out Theofanis Gekas’ effort.

Despite the pressure of attempting to take Costa Rica to the quarter-finals for the first time, Michael Umana then coolly converted to set up a last-eight meeting with Netherlands.

The game initially lived up to its billing of vibrant attack meeting dogged defence as Costa Rica surged forward with verve.

Costa Rica’s endeavour almost brought early reward, too, when Christian Bolanos powerfully struck over from a tight angle.

Greece enjoyed a good spell themselves thereafter, although their final ball left a lot to be desired.

That was also the story at the other end as Costa Rica failed to make the most of good openings with the match becoming increasingly stretched.

When a good delivery finally did come, it almost brought an opener as Jose Holebas’ superb left-wing cross to the back post located Dimitris Salpingidis, whose cushioned finish was brilliantly kept out by Navas’ right foot.

That was the sole bright moment of a largely turgid first period, yet Costa Rica ensured the second would be decidedly more exciting by scoring in the 52nd minute.

Ruiz was the man to find the net, his fortuitous finish from 20 yards wrong-footing goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis following Bolanos’ slide-rule pass.

Seemingly holding all of the aces at that stage, Costa Rica were reduced to 10 men midway through the second period when Duarte was sent off for a second bookable offence following an ill-judged sliding challenge on Holebas.

Suddenly sparked into life, Greece pressed forward in numbers and got their equaliser in the 91st minute when Papastathopoulos rifled home after Navas had produced a fine save to deny Gekas.

Costa Rican disappointment quickly turned to relief, however, when Navas produced a stunning save to turn Konstantinos Mitroglou’s header over the crossbar.

Inspired by the efforts of their goalkeeper, Costa Rica’s defenders were similarly heroic in the first period of extra-time, producing a host of crucial late blocks.

Remarkably, it was the 10 men prospering in the second half – although Greece missed the best chance when Lazaros Christodoulopoulos hit straight at Navas following a quick counterattack in which Fernando Santos’ side had a five-on-two chance in their favour.

There was still time for one last opening, too, as Navas produced another fine save, this time denying Mitroglou from point-blank range.

An impressive shootout ensued as the first seven were converted until Navas athletically kept out Gekas.

Umana then made no mistake, his conversion sending the Costa Rican supporters into delirium.

According to Goal

Holland looked close to exiting the World Cup until a late Wesley Sneijder scorcher and an injury-time penalty helped defeat Mexico 2-1 in the round of 16.

Wesley Sneijder of the Netherlands shoots and scores his team’s first goal past Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico

Klaas Jan Huntelaar kept his cool in the heat of Fortaleza as Holland stunned Mexico with the injury-time winner.

The Schalke striker fired home the penalty to put the Dutch through the quarter-finals of the World Cup as they inflicted an agonising defeat on Mexico who were within two minutes of an historic win, leading through Giovani dos Santos’ excellent strike.

Sneijder’s blistering volley pulled Holland level before Arjen Robben won a penalty and substitute Huntelaar smashed it home to make it 2-1 send the Dutch fans into ecstasy.

It was familiar misery for Mexico – it is now six consecutive World Cups where they have always been knocked out at this stage of the tournament.

This time it had seemed the elements were on their side. It was 30 degrees C and 70 per cent humidity meaning that FIFA’s limit had been passed allowing for official cooling and drinks breaks midway through each half.

Mexico looked more comfortable with conditions and took the game to the Dutch, whose cause was not helped by midfield enforcer Nigel de Jong going off apparently injured after only nine minutes.

Even before then, Mexico had taken the game to Holland. Miguel Layun blazed over from 25 yards and then fired wide, before skinning full-back Paul Verhaegh, but his cross just evaded Dos Santos.

Hector Herrera was the next to threaten for the Mexicans after some lovely build-up, but he just snatched at his shot and it drifted wide.

Herrera caused the Holland fans to sweat even more when Ron Vlaar followed through a clearance with a high foot in the head, but his penalty claims were waved away.

Dos Santos then combined nicely with Oribe Peralta but the Villarreal striker’s low shot was gathered by Jasper Cillessen.

Holland were reliant on a flash of brilliance from Robben or Robin van Persie and each caused some fear for Mexico.

First Van Persie took the ball down and seemed poised for a trademark lash at goal but, off balance, sliced his volley badly wide.

Just before half-time Rafael Marquez slipped to concede possession to Van Persie who found Robben running into the penalty area only to be taken down by a combination of Marquez and Hector Moreno. Only Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca could explain why he did not award the penalty.

Mexico’s dominance paid off three minutes after the break, when Dos Santos fastened onto Vlaar’s attempted headed clearance and, running across goal under pressure from Daley Blind, smacked a low shot back inside the far post.

Holland had to respond and they gave it everything. Only a point-blank save from Guillermo Ochoa kept them out – Stefan De Vrij arrived to thump in Robben’s corner but the ball hit Ochoa’s gloves and head and glanced onto the inside of the post and clear.

Robben had another decent penalty appeal turned down before Ochoa bailed Mexico out again when one on one with the winger.

Coach Louis van Gaal’s last throw of the dice was to give Jan Huntelaar his first chance of the tournament, in place of the tired-looking Van Persie, and that proved decisive.

With three minutes of normal time left, Huntelaar won a header from a corner and Sneijder lashed in a volley with such power that Ochoa did not even move.

Then came Robben, once again making the most of contact inside the box from Marquez, leaving Huntelaar to show his class from the spot.

According to Foxsports

Manchester United have sold left-back Alexander Buttner to Dinamo Moscow for a fee that could rise to £5.6million.

Buttner made only 15 appearances for United last season, and the £27million signing of Luke Shaw meant the 25-year-old Dutchman was surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.

Journalists understand the Russian club have paid £4.4million up front for the player, but the fee could climb to £5.6million depending on appearance.

United paid just under £4million for Buttner when they signed him from Vitesse Arnhem in August 2012.

The defender scored on his United debut against Wigan and also found the net in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final game in charge, but he was never able to dislodge Patrice Evra as first-choice left-back.

And when Shaw arrived just a few weeks after Evra renewed his contract, it always looked likely that Buttner would leave Old Trafford.

A statement on United’s website read: “Manchester United has finalised the sale of Alex Buttner to Dynamo Moscow for an undisclosed fee.

“Everybody at Old Trafford would like to thank Alex for his service and wish him well for his new career in Russia.”

Buttner becomes the third defender to leave United this summer after Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

New manager Louis van Gaal has brought in Shaw and Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao.

According to Foxsports

Luis Suarez’s defence against a charge of biting an opponent was that he lost his balance and hit his face on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder, it has emerged.

His claims, which were dismissed by FIFA’s disciplinary committee, are contained in the full written reasons of the ruling, a copy of which has been seen by Press Association Sport.

Suarez said in his submission: “After the impact I lost my balance, that destabilised me and I fell on top of my opponent.

“At this moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth and that’s why the referee stopped the match.

“That is what happened and in no way was there any case of biting or intending to bite.”

The seven-man disciplinary panel dismissed his arguments and imposed a four-month ban from all football, plus nine international matches and a 100,000 Swiss francs fine (approximately £65,000).

The panel’s ruling stated: “The commission took into account that the offence was made directly against a player while the ball was not in dispute and that the offence was deliberate and intentional and without provocation.

“He bit the player with the intention of wounding him or at least of destabilising him.

“In such context the committee observes that the player had been sanctioned on previous occasions in club competition for similar acts.”

FIFA has been formally informed of the Uruguay FA’s intention to appeal against the sanctions on Suarez.

The Uruguay football federation will now have a further seven days to prepare the paperwork for the appeal.

FIFA head of media Delia Fischer told a news conference in Rio de Janeiro: “We have received a declaration that they are planning to appeal. They informed us of their intention to appeal yesterday evening.

“The reasons for the appeal must now be given in writing within a deadline of seven days after the three days has expired.”

The Liverpool striker has left the World Cup in Brazil and returned to Uruguay.

On Friday, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez suggested the English media were to blame for the “excessive” sanction and announced he was standing down from his role on FIFA’s Technical Study Group because he thought the World Cup record ban was too harsh.

The ruling also points out Suarez showed no remorse.

It added in paragraph 29: “The disciplinary commission observed that the player at no moment showed regret or remorse of any type nor did he admit a violation of any FIFA rule and therefore in general he did not show any consciousness of having committed any offence.”

Suarez, who was given a hero’s welcome his return to Uruguay, issued a message of thanks to his supporters on Saturday.

He said on Twitter: “Hello everyone. I’m writing this message to give my thanks for all the displays of support and kindness that I am receiving. Both me and my family are grateful for them.

“Thanks a lot for being at my side and I want us all today to support my team-mates from the national side for the game against Colombia.”

According to Goal

The Monaco star scored arguably the goal of the tournament so far as Oscar Tabarez’s men were dumped out of the competition

James Rodriguez scored twice – his first a stunning volley – to fire Colombia to a 2-0 win over Uruguay and secure a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

His unstoppable 28th-minute strike on the turn is arguably the goal of the tournament so far, and he followed that up with a close range effort in the second period to end the game as a contest.

Colombia dominated possession in a nervy opening, although they were mainly limited to shots from distance against a Uruguay side without star man Luis Suarez on the back of his four-month suspension.

Oscar Tabarez’s men appeared content to sit deep but their resistance was broken when Rodriguez produced a spontaneous moment of brilliance to light up the match.

A lofted header back towards the Celeste penalty area was chested down on the turn by the Monaco man, who then swivelled and struck the ball first time on the volley into the top left-hand corner.

According to Goal