Sport - Football

Parks spoils Turkey's plans

Turkey's Emre Belozoglu (top) hugs teammate Umit Davala after scoring against Costa Rica in their Group C match at the Incheon Munhak Stadium in Incheon, South Korea, on Sunday. But the joy was shortlived as Winston Parks scored the equaliser. — AP

INCHEON (South Korea) June 9. Winston Parks scored the tying goal on a pretty left-footed shot in the 86th minute and Costa Rica tied Turkey 1-1 on Sunday in Group C.

Emre Belozoglu had scored in the 56th minute for Turkey, which would have been in good position to advance with a win. But Parks ruined that plan and nearly got a go-ahead goal in injury time.

``I was ready and just wanted to show why everyone has put so much confidence in me,'' Parks said. ``My family and girlfriend told me I'd have a chance and I'd take advantage.''

Brazil, which won its first two games, clinched a second-round berth from Group C. Costa Rica, with four points and plus-two goal difference, is second followed by Turkey, which has one point and is minus-one.

Costa Rica closes on Thursday against Brazil, which can rest its starters. Turkey, in its first World Cup in 48 years, finishes against China, which lost its first two games and has been eliminated.

To advance, Turkey must win, Costa Rica must lose and the Turks must overcome the goal difference. Costa Rica can advance with a draw of a Turkish loss.

Bolozoglu had put Turkey ahead off the rebound of his own first shot. Costa Rica, content with mostly counterattacks until then, pushed three men up and finally broke through with four minutes to go.

``We sometimes tried to put players through and we tried to create chances,'' Turkey coach Senol Gunes said. ``But Costa Rica played well, they have a tough defensive line.''

The goal developed when Costa Rica sent a long pass near the right side of the goal, Paulo Wanchope headed it down and Hernan Medford managed to get a foot on it just ahead of his defender for a cross that went across the goalmouth.

The ball went to Parks at the top of the 6-yard box. He had the whole side of the net to shoot at and easily beat goalkeeper Rustu Recber.

The result left teams from CONCACAF, soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean region, with four wins, one tie and no losses in the tournament. Mexico beat Ecuador 2-1 in the first game of the day in Group G.

Parks had a chance to score again in injury time, but put the ball into the side of the net.

There was a scuffle in front of the benches in the 90th minute when Belozoglu pushed a person in front of Costa Rica's bench, apparently part of the team staff. Belozoglu was given a yellow card.

Before a crowd of 42,299 at Munhak Stadium, Turkey had gone ahead when Hasan Sas played a long ball to Belozoglu, who trapped it. His first shot was blocked, but he took the rebound, spun around Walter Centeno and beat goalkeeper Erick Lonnis to the short side.

Turkey, among 22 countries that contributed forces to the United Nations in the Korean War a half-century ago, had the greater number of fans.

In addition to a thousand or so Turkish fans in the lower deck, several thousand South Koreans in yellow T-shirts waved Turkish flags in the upper deck, apparently members of the cheering sections recruited by local organizers.

Turkey 1 Costa Rica 1

Emre 1; Winston Parks 1

There were few chances for Turkey or the Ticos in the first half, with Turkey having far greater ball possession and Costa Rica content for the most part to counterattack.

Costa Rica's Centeno had the best chance in the half, receiving a through pass wide open in front of the goal, but his shot soared well over the bar.

Costa Rica often had eight or nine players back, and Gilberto Martinez made several fine plays to deflect shots by Sas and strip the ball.

Recber hurt his left leg in the 35th minute, rushing off his goal line to beat Centeno to a ball. The goalkeeper managed to kick the ball away with his right foot, but landed awkwardly with his left leg tucked. He stayed in the game but hobbled a bit.

The teams: Costa Rica: 1-Erick Lonnis (c), 3-Luis Marin, 4-Mauricio Wright, 5-Gilberto Martinez, 6-Wilmer Lopez (12-Winston Parks 77), 8-Mauricio Solis, 9-Paulo Wanchope, 10-Walter Centeno (17-Hernan Medford 66), 11-Ronald Gomez, 15-Harold Wallace (16-Steven Bryce 77), 22-Carlos Castro.

Turkey: 1-Rustu Recber, 2-Emre Asik, 4-Fatih Akyel, 8-Tugay Kerimoglu (6-Arif Erdem 88), 9-Hakan Sukur (c) (17-Ilhan Mansiz 75), 10-Yildiray Basturk (15-Nihat Kahveci 79), 11-Hasan Sas, 16-Umit Ozat, 18-Ergun Penbe, 21-Emre Belozoglu, 22-Umit Davala.

Referee: Coffi Codija, Benin.

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