MATCH REPORT: Uruguay 1 Costa Rica 3
Underdogs Costa Rica blew Group D wide open ahead of England's showdown with Italy thanks to a shock victory over Uruguay.
Despite missing talisman Luis Suarez through injury, Uruguay – the top-ranked side in the group – looked set for victory when they led through Edinson Cavani's early penalty at the break.
But Arsenal's Joel Campbell levelled matters from long range before Oscar Duarte and Marcos Urena completed the comeback.
To make matters worse for Uruguay, Maxi Pereira saw red for hacking down man of the match Campbell in injury time and will be banned for Thursday's meeting with England.
Diego Godin had a goal chalked off for offside when he converted a Diego Lugano cross but Uruguay took the lead on 23 minutes when Costa Rica - their team seemingly set up with the simple aim of denying rather than dazzling - gave away a needless penalty.
Junior Diaz rugby tackled Lugano to the ground and £55 million Paris St Germain striker Cavani - who had also spurned an early chance - converted a confident and well-placed spot kick for his 22nd international goal.
The strike added some much-needed spark to what had been a tepid encounter and Costa Rica, making their fourth finals appearance, briefly started to threaten.
Campbell, playing a lone role up front, let rip with a long-range effort that wasn't far wide and team-mate Giancarlo Gonzalez saw a shot deflected into the side netting of the Uruguay goal.
But Uruguay always looked more comfortable and should have doubled their tally late in the second half - misses that were to prove decisive.
Martin Caceres and Cristian Rodriguez combined to carve open the Costa Rica defence only for Diego Forlan's bending shot to graze the post.
And just two minutes later Forlan was again denied as a speculative shot took a huge deflection and appeared to be sailing over keeper Keylor Navas, before he scrambled back and produced an arching save.
Roy Hodgson sent under-21 manager Gareth Southgate and trusted scout John Marshall on a reconnaissance mission to Fortaleza - and they'll certainly have plenty to report back.
Uruguay frequently lost their shape and discipline and then paid the price as Jorge Luis Pinto's side scored twice in three minutes.
Arsenal striker Campbell unleashed a stunning 54th minute equaliser after Cristian Gamboa had whipped in a brilliant cross.
And three minutes later Duarte caught Uruguay napping at a free-kick, stealing past his marker at the far post and beating Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera, whose red face clashed horribly with his orange jersey.
Uruguay struggled to defend Costa Rica's set pieces, repeatedly coming off second best in the aerial battle, which Hodgson will surely look to exploit in the days ahead.
Tabárez had Suarez on the bench but he refused to introduce him - fuelling speculation that his knee injury might just be a little more serious than his team have been letting on.
Uruguay, for all their first half dominance, lacked any bite in the second half and substitute Urena completed their misery in the 85th minute.
And a team with a reputation for seeing red, were reduced to ten men in stoppage time after Pereira's reckless lunge on Campbell.
