Costa Rica Vs Dominican Republic Highlights, Concacaf Gold Cup: CRC 2-1 DOM; Late Alcocer Winner Puts Los Ticos On Verge Of Quarters

Hello and welcome to everyone joining us this Thursday. We will bring to you the build-up as well as live updates from the Group A encounter between Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.

The game will kick off at 4:30am IST. The Costa Rica vs Dominican Republic, Concacaf Gold Cup 2025 match will be live-streamed on the Concacaf GO platform and the Concacaf YouTube channel in India. It will not be televised on any TV channel in the country.

Costa Rica and Mexico both have three points from their respective opening-round wins, but Los Ticos have a superior goal difference and hence are on top of the four-team table. Suriname and Dominican Republic are both winless and occupy the third and fourth places respectively. The results of today's games could thus be decisive in the knockout context.

This is how Costa Rica line up ahead of kick-off at the AT&T Stadium:

And here is Dominican Republic's line-up for this vital Group A encounter:

Over in Indian football, the turmoil appears to be never-ending as a number of Indian Super League clubs have reportedly been told by the organisers that the 2025-26 edition of the top-tier league will not kick off unless there is clarity on the Master Rights Agreement.

The agreement pertains to Football Sports Development Limited's commercial partnership with the All India Football Federation. The 15-year agreement is slated to end in December 2025.

Play gets underway in Arlington, Texas. Dominican Republic attacking from right to left and Costa Rica from left to right in the first half. Los Ticos mount a promising move in the first 30 seconds but it is thwarted in time by the Dominican defence.

Dominican Republic have more than held their own in the first 15 minutes. But they haven't done enough to put Costa Rica under pressure yet. An unlikely win for the Dominicans tonight could really open up the group.

Joao Urbaez puts Dominican Republic ahead in the 16th minute! The defender keeps the Dominican dream alive and kicking by driving the ball in from close range. A VAR check ensues but the goal stands and DOM take the lead in a major men's football tournament for the first time ever.

Over in the FIFA Club World Cup, a game has been affected by adverse weather for the second successive day. After threat of lightning delayed the start of the Group F clash between Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns in Orlando, Florida yesterday, the Group H match between Pachuca and RB Salzburg today stands suspended due to torrential rain and thunderstorms.

Costa Rica equalize! Joseph Mora is booked for a foul and Los Ticos earn a penalty, which stays after VAR check. The 23-year-old Manfred Ugalde steps up and sends Dominican 'keeper Valdez the wrong way to bring his team back to parity on the stroke of half time.

The referee blows his whistle after over three minutes of added time. The scoreline reads a tantalizing 1-1 at half-time, courtesy Ugalde's late penalty equalizer. We are set for what should be a riveting second half.

The second half gets underway. Costa Rica now attacking from right to left and Dominican Republic from left to right. Remember that a win for Los Ticos puts them on the doorstep of the last-eight stage, while a Dominican victory completely throws Group A open. A draw will also suit Costa Rica somewhat.

Costa Rica goalie Keylor Navas is forced to leap and save a full-blooded shot from the Dominican Republic offensive unit. The resulting corner amounts to nothing, but that shot would have rung a warning bell.

Around 15 minutes remain in this encounter. Dominican Republic are giving it their all in the quest for a winner that keeps them alive in the qualification race. Meanwhile, Rafael Nunez comes in for Peter Gonzalez and Ronaldo Vasquez for Edarlyn Reyes.

Josimar Alcocer! The 20-year-old scores in the 85th minute and puts Costa Rica on the verge of the Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-finals. He takes off his shirt in jubilation and earns a yellow card resultantly, but the youngster does not care. He is substituted out for Guillermo Villalobos Alfaro, soon after.

Keylor Navas kicks it far and long, and the referee blows the final whistle. After seven minutes of added time, Costa Rica emerge 2-1 victors at full-time. So near, yet so far for Dominican Republic, who crash out of reckoning with this result. As for Los Ticos, they are almost there, into the next stage. A Mexico victory would seal the deal for Costa Rica.