Fabregas, Alcacer help Spain beat Costa Rica 2-1

Spain completed a first-half comeback to beat Costa Rica 2-1 in a warm-up friendly ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifying meeting with Belarus

Madrid: Spain completed a first-half comeback to beat Costa Rica 2-1 in a warm-up friendly ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifying meeting with Belarus.


Costa Rica's 'keeper Keylor Navas (left) vies with Spain's Paco Alcacer 

Johan Venegas had not read the script and scored the first goal, but Paco Alcacer quickly put the reigning European champions back on level terms.

Cesc Fabregas then hit what proved to be the winner on the half-hour mark and Spain would have to settle for a one-goal margin of victory as Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas produced a stunning display after the break to keep the scoreline respectable.

The party atmosphere in Leon was soon soured when Venegas grabbed a surprise early opener for the visitors.

After five minutes of play, the Alajuelense winger cut inside to collect Joel Campbell's pass from the left before drilling beyond David De Gea.

Spain did not let their heads drop and hit back instantly, Alcacer slamming home a seventh-minute equaliser from the left-hand side of the Costa Rica box.

Vicente del Bosque's men spent the rest of the half trying to turn the game on its head but that mission was harder to complete than they would have liked.

The former world champions would take the lead ahead of the break, though, Fabregas putting the finishing touch to a fine team move on 30 minutes.

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