Costa Rica goalkeeper Daniela Solera saved a first-half penalty, but Spain were never threatened at the other end and went top of their group ahead of Japan's game against Zambia on Saturday. There are tight results in the World Cup," she said. Costa Rica could have conceded more if not for the heroics of Solera in goal as she made timely interventions and reflex saves. Costa Rica had their opportunities on the counter-attack but they were quickly snuffed out and they managed only one shot compared to Spain's 45. "For 22 minutes we were compact but after the own goal the whole team lost concentration," Costa Rica coach Amelia Valverde said.

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Persons: Casey Reibelt, Spain's Aitana Bonmati, Amanda Perobelli WELLINGTON, Bonmati, Esther Gonzalez, Daniela Solera, Jorge Vilda, Alexia Putellas, Esther, Alexia, Vilda, Putellas, Athenea del Castillo, Ivana Andres, Costa Rica's Valeria del Campo, smartly, deservedly, Solera, Gonzalez, Jennifer Hermoso's, Amelia Valverde, Rohith Nair, Peter Rutherford, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Wellington Regional, Costa Rica, Zambia, Athenea, Spain, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Spain, Costa Rica, Wellington , New Zealand, Costa, Costa Rica's, Barcelona, Bengaluru