In a thrilling encounter at the Snapdragon Stadium, Costa Rica emerged victorious against Suriname in their opening clash of Group B at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The match, which ended 4-3 in favor of the home side, was a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring dramatic twists and turns that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last minute. A composed penalty from Manfred Ugalde sealed the win for Costa Rica deep into added time, marking a memorable start to their Gold Cup campaign.

Costa Rica, under the guidance of Miguel Herrera, displayed early dominance, with Alonso Martínez opening the scoring in the 14th minute. Martínez capitalized on a superb near-post cross, stabbing the ball into the net to give his team the lead. Just five minutes later, Costa Rica extended their advantage when a reckless tackle in the box led to a penalty. Manfred Ugalde stepped up and confidently dispatched the penalty, sending Suriname's goalkeeper, Etienne Vaessen, the wrong way to make it 2-0.

Suriname, however, refused to back down. Despite struggling to break into the final third for a significant portion of the first half, they showcased their quality in the 34th minute. Richonell Margaret delivered a pinpoint cross to Gyrano Kerk, who masterfully glanced a header over the outstretched hands of Costa Rica's veteran goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, reducing the deficit to 2-1.

The second half saw Suriname turn the game on its head with two quick goals. In the 58th minute, a Costa Rican error allowed Kerk to set up Margaret, who coolly slotted the ball past Navas to level the score. Just six minutes later, Suriname completed the comeback when Shaquille Pinas converted a penalty after a Costa Rican handball, giving his team a stunning 3-2 lead.

Costa Rica, known for their resilience, fought back to level the score in the 76th minute. After a chaotic sequence of rebounds inside the box, Josimar Alcócer fired home the equalizer, making it 3-3 and setting the stage for a tense final 15 minutes.

The drama reached its peak in added time when Costa Rica were awarded a penalty after Malone brought down Galo inside the box. Manfred Ugalde once again stepped up to take the spot-kick, and with nerves of steel, he calmly slotted the ball into the opposite corner as Vaessen dived the other way. Ugalde's clinical finish secured a 4-3 victory for Costa Rica, capping off a thrilling night of end-to-end action.

The match was not without its setbacks for Costa Rica. Warren Madrigal was forced to leave the game on a stretcher after a hard collision, casting a shadow over their victory. The Costa Rican team will be awaiting a medical report to assess the extent of Madrigal's injury.

Despite the win, Miguel Herrera will be aware that his team needs to address their defensive vulnerabilities. Suriname's comeback in the second half exposed some weaknesses in the Costa Rican defense, which they will need to rectify as they progress further in the tournament.

For Suriname, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. After falling behind early on, they showed great character to turn the game around and take the lead. However, they were ultimately undone by a late penalty decision. Despite the loss, Suriname can take heart from their performance, which showcased their attacking prowess and resilience.

Manfred Ugalde's two penalties proved to be the difference between the two sides. The 23-year-old forward, who plays for Spartak Moscow, demonstrated his composure and quality from the spot, earning him the man-of-the-match award. With this victory, Costa Rica sits at the top of Group B, above favorites Mexico, and has taken a significant step towards qualifying for the knockout stages of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.