Sports

Bryan Ruiz gives Costa Rica 1-0 lead over Italy at halftime

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Italy's Mario Balotelli controls the ball during the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Friday, June 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) (The Associated Press)

Italy's Mario Balotelli reacts after missing a chance during the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Friday, June 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) (The Associated Press)

Bryan Ruiz headed home just before the break to give Costa Rica a surprise 1-0 lead over Italy at halftime in their World Cup match on Friday.

Junior Diaz supplied the cross from the left in the 44th minute and Ruiz headed onto the underside of the crossbar and over the line to beat Italy goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon.

Moments earlier, Costa Rica had seen a penalty appeal waved away when striker Joel Campbell went down in the area under a challenge from Giorgio Chiellini.

Mario Balotelli had earlier missed two chances for Italy in the Group D match.